Novata Teams With Microsoft on Private Markets ESG Data

Novata is to collaborate with Microsoft to scale its private-market ESG data offering. The two companies plan to develop artificial intelligence tools to simplify data collection and reporting, and give smaller companies climate reporting tools.

ICE Integrates NatureAlpha Biodiversity Data

Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) has integrated biodiversity data from start-up NatureAlpha. The new feed, NatureAlpha’s Glovers 2.0, will be integrated into ICE’s ICE Climate Analytics Platform.

RepRisk Feeds Business Conduct Data into BlackRock’s Aladdin to Bolster ESG Oversight

Reputational risk specialist RepRisk has integrated its AI driven dataset—covering 100?+ risk factors across 400,000?+ public and private entities—into BlackRock’s Aladdin investment platform. The link gives portfolio managers real-time “outside in” alerts on corporate misconduct directly inside their trading and risk workflows.

“We are proud to serve the global asset management and asset owner community through BlackRock’s Aladdin® platform with RepRisk’s global standard for business conduct data, increasing performance and peace of mind,” said CEO Philipp?Aeby.

“We’re excited to expand our collaboration with RepRisk and provide our clients with access to comprehensive business conduct data,” commented Bernadette Rivosecchi, Managing Director and Head of Aladdin Sustainability. She continued, “The integration of RepRisk’s data into the Aladdin® platform expands the coverage of companies – especially in private markets – and risk factors, enabling our clients to make more informed investment decisions.”

The move complements RepRisk’s existing presence on BlackRock’s eFront platform for alternatives and tightens ESG surveillance amid rising regulatory scrutiny.

Nasdaq Verafin Pilots Agentic AI AML-Workers

Nasdaq’s anti financial crime arm, Verafin, is piloting a set of agentic AI ‘digital workers’ designed to handle the labour-intensive parts of anti money laundering (AML) compliance – tasks such as clearing false positive sanctions alerts and performing routine enhanced due diligence (EDD) reviews.

Financial crime teams remain under heavy pressure. In a survey of more than 200 industry professionals, Verafin found that threequarters of respondents had hired more staff over the past year, yet almost half still felt short of the resources and technology needed to keep pace with regulators. Automating low risk, high volume work promises a way to redeploy scarce human investigators to the complex cases that matter most.

What the AI Workers Do

• Sanctions screening agent: Reviews alert queues, fully documents low risk false positives, and escalates genuine matches for human follow up.
• EDD analyst: Automates scheduled customer risk reviews, closing straightforward low risk cases and flagging those that warrant deeper scrutiny.

Nasdaq’s anti financial crime arm, Verafin, is piloting a set of agentic AI ‘digital workers’ designed to handle the labour-intensive parts of anti money laundering (AML) compliance – tasks such as clearing false positive sanctions alerts and performing routine enhanced due diligence (EDD) reviews.

Financial crime teams remain under heavy pressure. In a survey of more than 200 industry professionals, Verafin found that threequarters of respondents had hired more staff over the past year, yet almost half still felt short of the resources and technology needed to keep pace with regulators. Automating low risk, high volume work promises a way to redeploy scarce human investigators to the complex cases that matter most.

What the AI Workers Do

• Sanctions screening agent: Reviews alert queues, fully documents low risk false positives, and escalates genuine matches for human follow up.
• EDD analyst: Automates scheduled customer risk reviews, closing straightforward low risk cases and flagging those that warrant deeper scrutiny.

Both tools are in beta, with a broader rollout expected later in the year.

Regulators have signalled growing tolerance for responsible AI deployment in compliance, provided firms maintain robust oversight. Independent AML consultants note that digital co-workers can cut investigation times but caution that firms will need clear audit trails if decisions are challenged.

Rob Norris, Verafin’s head of product, framed the initiative as a way to let compliance teams focus on “the important work of tackling serious financial crimes such as human trafficking, drug trafficking, and other facets of organized crime.”

If the beta proves reliable, banks could see a double benefit: reduced operational spend on routine alert handling and faster escalation of true risk, a combination some analysts say is essential as sanctions regimes and criminal typologies rapidly evolve. Both tools are in beta, with a broader rollout expected later in the year.

Regulators have signalled growing tolerance for responsible AI deployment in compliance, provided firms maintain robust oversight. Independent AML consultants note that digital co-workers can cut investigation times but caution that firms will need clear audit trails if decisions are challenged.

Rob Norris, Verafin’s head of product, framed the initiative as a way to let compliance teams focus on “the important work of tackling serious financial crimes such as human trafficking, drug trafficking, and other facets of organized crime.”

If the beta proves reliable, banks could see a double benefit: reduced operational spend on routine alert handling and faster escalation of true risk, a combination some analysts say is essential as sanctions regimes and criminal typologies rapidly evolve.

Bloomberg Widens Leveraged Loans Indices

Bloomberg Indices’ leveraged loans gauges have been expanded. The Bloomberg European Leveraged Loan Index and the Bloomberg Global Leveraged Loan Index complement the US benchmark that was launched last year.

The indices are built on Bloomberg’s own evaluated pricing engine, BVAL, and include about 100 sub-indices, giving investors more granular visibility.

RepRisk Data Available on Aladdin

Reputational risk data provider RepRisk’s content is now available on Blackrock’s Aladdin platform. The Switzerland-based company said its data is used by 80 per cent “of the world’s top investment managers and 14 of the top 20 private equity firms to make better-informed portfolio and investment decisions”.

Canton Network Expands On-Chain Collateral Initiative with Leading Liquidity Providers

The Canton Network has announced the inclusion of B2C2, Cumberland DRW, FalconX, and GSR as new design partners in its on-chain collateral initiative for bilateral derivatives. These firms join existing partners Flowdesk and QCP to support the development of an application designed to streamline collateral and margin management. Scheduled to launch in Q3, the application will be open to all OTC bilateral derivatives traders.

The collaboration aims to address inefficiencies in the crypto derivatives market by offering a cost-effective alternative to current over-collateralised and tri-party agent models. Using the Canton Network’s privacy-preserving architecture, the solution will enable automated smart contract-based collateral agreements compliant with ISDA CSA standards. Key features include real-time data sharing among transaction parties, instant tokenised collateral pledging, and 24/7 margining capabilities, offering improved operational efficiency, risk reduction, and support for novel collateral types.

Bloomberg to Integrate CME Group’s EBS Market FX Data into BFIX Benchmarks

Bloomberg Index Services Limited (BISL) has announced an agreement with CME Group to incorporate EBS Market’s Spot FX transactions into its Bloomberg FX Fixings (BFIX) benchmarks. This move aims to enhance the precision and efficiency of BFIX by including transaction data, thereby reducing risk and improving the ability of market participants to match the fixings.

The integration of EBS Market data supports BFIX’s commitment to providing reliable, representative and transparent foreign exchange benchmarks. BISL will initiate a market consultation later in 2025 to collect feedback on the proposed changes, with implementation expected in early 2026. BFIX currently covers over 1,300 spot currency pairs and 3,950 forward and non-deliverable forward (NDF) fixings, and is aligned with UK BMR compliance and IOSCO principles, supporting various financial applications including portfolio benchmarking and derivatives valuation.

Wedbush Securities Launches 24-Hour Trading via Strategic ATS Partnerships

Wedbush Securities has introduced 24-hour trading capabilities, allowing clients to access U.S. and OTC markets throughout all trading sessions. This new offering is powered by partnerships with Blue Ocean Technologies and OTC Markets Group, enabling seamless trading during overnight, pre-market, core, and post-market hours. The initiative particularly supports investors in Asia-Pacific regions, aligning with their local trading times.

The service integrates three alternative trading systems – Blue Ocean ATS, MOON ATS, and OTC Overnight – to provide comprehensive overnight access from 8:00 PM to 4:00 AM Eastern Time. Blue Ocean ATS and MOON ATS facilitate trading in U.S.-listed securities, while OTC Overnight extends access to OTC equities. The platform supports both high- and low-touch routing and includes expert execution services across all hours.

Northern Trust to Trial Carbon Credit Tokenisation in Australia’s Project Acacia

Northern Trust will participate in Australia’s Project Acacia to test the interoperability of tokenised carbon credit transactions with traditional bank payments. The bank plans to demonstrate the simultaneous settlement of a carbon credit token transfer and a conventional payment using its blockchain-based Northern Trust Carbon Ecosystem. This simulation will be conducted in collaboration with Swift.

Project Acacia is led by the Reserve Bank of Australia and the Digital Finance Cooperative Research Centre (DFCRC) to explore various forms of tokenised money and assets, including wholesale CBDCs, tokenised deposits, and stablecoins. Northern Trust’s involvement underscores its ongoing commitment to digital finance initiatives, having previously contributed to blockchain projects in Singapore and Hong Kong. The firm is also a founding shareholder in Zodia Custody and manages $17 trillion in assets under custody.