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The knowledge platform for the financial technology industry

MDDL: Bearing the Reference Data Standard By James Hartley, Chief Technologist, SIIA/FISD.

Just as the World Wide Web is maturing and the capabilities of Web Services are evolving, so are the data and application standards that use these tools. The Market Data Definition Language (MDDL) is the emerging eXtensible Markup Language (XML)-based standard for reference data. The financial services industry finds itself grappling with the fiscal need...

RDUG Lists Executive Committee Membership

In its latest update to members, the Reference Data User Group (RDUG) listed the membership of its executive commitee, which comprises 12 executives involved in the reference data area. They are: Alan Plom (chairman), Gartmore Investment Management; Anthony Kirby (secretary), Deutsche Borse; Iman Szeto, Northern Trust; Stuart McKinlay, State Street; Michael Atkin, Reference Data Coalition...

Cocktails at Dusk or Weekender? Sibos Reflects Asia Markets Mood By Miroslav Janiic, Finetik Partners

Since Swift decided to go ahead with Sibos and to defy the doom-mongers about a possible SARS backlash, the economic data from Asian markets has improved. Asian countries offer record-low interest rates, record-high liquidity levels and a banks community with cleaner balance sheets than at any time in the past six years. The pump is...

FISD’s Atkin Sets Landscape for Data Standards Initiatives

In his update to the London reference data community earlier this month, Financial Information Services Division (FISD) director Mike Atkin took the opportunity to outline the group’s position on standards. As always seems to be the case with standards, he lamented the fact there are too many of them. But he also cut through the...

FISD to Brief London Community On REDAC/RDUG Progress

The Financial Information Services Division (FISD) of the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) will use its forthcoming meeting in London on September 3 to inform members of its considerable recent activities in the reference data space. Among the main topics for discussion will be recent white papers relating to its work as manager of...

RDUG’s Legal Identity Identifier Proposal in Review Process

The draft definition for a proposed Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) code has this month been passed to Swift as the next stage in its development towards becoming an industry standard. It is also being considered for adoption into the next release of the FIX protocol, and the U.K. Financial Services Authority is considering endorsing it....

Basel Concerns Boost Risk Budgets

One-third of U.S. risk management professionals surveyed by industry association PRMIA have seen their IT budgets increased and plan to install new software to support the forthcoming Basel II capital requirements. Over 2,000 U.S. PRMIA members were asked for their thoughts on various standards in the risk management profession. The results showed a pre-occupation with...

Industry Groups RDUG, Redac Talk Of Merger

The two reference data industry groups – the US-based Reference Data Coalition (Redac) and the European Reference Data Users Group (RDUG) – are close to finalising details of how to merge their activities”. With the focus of both groups in the same area, it would seem a logical step to merge the efforts, providing the...

RDUG Opens Doors To Vendors As Reuters Scales Back STP Programme

The Reference Data Users Group is opening its doors to more vendor participation, moving away from the perception that it is a Reuters-led organization. In large part this is due to Reuters abandoning its high profile STP Programme and with it the team led by RDUG figurehead Tony Kirby. Despite leaving Reuters, Kirby is still...

Targetting Standards

FT Interactive Data has spent much of the recent past consolidating its datasets to address the needs of its customers internationally. Reference Data Review spoke to Tom Aubrey, European markets director, about the company’s view of the market. “If you explain to people outside the securities industry that in effect the industry can’t agree on...