A-Team Insight Brief
Bloomberg Enhances ETF Shares’ Operational Efficiency with BSKT Integration
Bloomberg has announced that Australian issuer ETF Shares has adopted BSKT, an automated tool designed to streamline ETF creation and redemption workflows. By integrating this technology, ETF Shares aims to improve operational efficiency and risk management. The tool allows for the seamless distribution of portfolio composition files to authorised participants at the conclusion of each trading day, ensuring data consistency across the primary market.
The BSKT solution centralises primary market liquidity on the Bloomberg Terminal, allowing ETF Shares to manage electronic creation and redemption requests and track order lifecycles in real time. Standardised fund flow data assists portfolio managers in executing critical tasks, such as pre-trade compliance checks. Furthermore, once orders are settled, the system automates notifications to asset servicing providers, reducing manual intervention in the post-trade process.
As part of Bloomberg’s broader suite of ETF products, BSKT supports the entire investment lifecycle for issuers, investors, and liquidity providers. It complements other electronic market solutions, such as the RFQe service for secondary market trading. By automating the assembly of underlying asset baskets, the tool provides market-makers and authorised participants with a more efficient framework for managing ETF assets.
FIX Trading Community Proposes Recommendations for AI Regulation
The FIX Trading Community has submitted ten formal recommendations to the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) regarding AI risk management in financial markets. This response addresses the growing integration of large language models and machine learning within algorithmic trading. The proposed framework aims to mitigate the risk of market instability and “contagion” caused by the rapid, interconnected nature of global AI-driven trading systems.
A central pillar of the proposal is the establishment of a globally recognised definition and taxonomy for AI to prevent regulatory arbitrage. FIX suggests anchoring new guidelines to existing standards, such as MiFID RTS 6 and DORA, while making company boards directly accountable for the effectiveness of AI governance. The recommendations also advocate for cross-functional oversight of third-party suppliers and the implementation of disclosure patterns for AI data and training, similar to food labelling.
Furthermore, FIX proposes expanding risk assessments to include “change sensitivity” and “interconnectedness” to account for non-linear AI behaviour. The group suggests that AI inventories must be more granular than traditional algorithm logs and that any fine-tuning or data refreshes should undergo rigorous materiality tests. By leveraging its expertise in algorithm certification, FIX aims to ensure that AI lifecycle controls remain robust as the technology evolves.
ICE Benchmark Administration Recognised by ESMA Under EU Benchmarks Regulation
Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) said that the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has granted recognition to ICE Benchmark Administration Limited (IBA) as a third-country benchmark administrator under Article 32 of the EU Benchmarks Regulation.
“IBA is pleased to have been granted recognition by ESMA,” said Clive de Ruig, President of ICE Benchmark Administration. “This decision ensures IBA’s EU-based clients can continue to use the ICE Swap Rate® and the LBMA Gold Price without disruption and demonstrates our ability to apply robust governance and best-in-class technology to give market participants confidence in the information they depend upon.”
IBA is already authorised and regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority for benchmark administration and oversees a wider suite of benchmarks, including the LBMA Silver Price and ICE Term Reference Rates, which are currently outside the scope of EU BMR.
Bloomberg Compresses Delivery Times for Alternative Data
Bloomberg has launched Data Entitlements within the alternatives-focused ALTD function on its Terminal, integrating analytics from providers such as Placer.ai and Similarweb into the existing investment research platform.
The service reduces the delivery lag of key performance indicator estimates to between three and five days, Bloomberg said.
Richard Lai, global head of alternative data at Bloomberg, said the launch provides clients with “a multi-dimensional view of company performance and the ability to nowcast KPIs at a lower lag”.
Users can now access granular metrics, including web traffic and foot traffic data, alongside traditional financial reports and news. Alternative data consists of non-traditional information sets used by investors to evaluate company performance outside of standard filings and price feeds.
Fitch Solutions Offers Clients Credit Data via Snowflake
Fitch Solutions has launched a range of credit intelligence datasets on the Snowflake Marketplace, enabling market participants to access credit ratings and loan-level performance data directly within the Snowflake AI Data Cloud.
Initial offerings include US automotive and consumer unsecured debt metrics, with plans to add ESG data in the future.
Credit intelligence platforms provide quantitative and qualitative analysis to help financial institutions manage risk and identify investment opportunities.
“We’re making sure our most valuable datasets are available when and where our clients need them,” said Rachel Lojko, president of Fitch Solutions. “This evolution in our delivery model reflects clear client demand for seamless, cloud-native access as firms accelerate their analytics and AI strategies.”
The delivery model uses standardised formats to remove the requirement for custom data ingestion pipelines and manual integration.
Arcesium Buys Swedish Asset Management Tools Firm Limina
Arcesium has acquired Stockholm-based portfolio and order management systems provider Limina to create a platform for asset managers and hedge funds.
The transaction integrates Limina’s front-office systems with the financial technology firm’s existing middle- and back-office solutions.
“With the addition of Limina’s front-office solutions, Arcesium will expand its global client relationships, providing investment firms with the integrated technology they need to scale their strategies amid increasing market complexity,” said Arcesium chief executive Gaurav Suri.
The entire Limina team will join Arcesium, with the founder reporting to the president of product and technology.
Canoe Joins Confluence to Enhance Portfolio Management Data Offering
Alternative investment data specialist Canoe Intelligence has formed a partnership that integrates its Canoe Connect system with with Confluence Technologies’ Portfolio Analytics and Reporting Information System to automate data workflows for asset allocators.
The agreement combines artificial intelligence-driven document collection with advanced analytics to streamline reporting for private-market portfolios, enabling institutional investors to monitor asset performance and manage regulatory compliance through automated data processing.
“We are building this integration to serve institutional investors, including many mutual clients,” said Christopher Jones, chief revenue officer at Canoe. “Not only are we simplifying complexity, but we’re also offering flexibility in how they access our technologies so these investment professionals can focus on what matters — performance and results.”
Confluence also plans to release a version of this solution accessible directly through its existing interface.
Lindsell Train Selects SimCorp One to Streamline Investment Operations
UK-based equity fund manager Lindsell Train has partnered with SimCorp to implement its integrated front-to-back platform, SimCorp One. The London-based firm, known for its high-conviction stock-picking strategy, will use the technology to support its concentrated portfolios across UK, Global, Japanese, and North American equity strategies.
The transition to SimCorp One is designed to simplify complex investment lifecycles by consolidating workflows onto a single platform. By leveraging increased automation, Lindsell Train aims to enhance operational efficiency across its front-, middle-, and back-office functions, providing a more robust foundation for future business growth.
The selection process highlighted SimCorp’s established reputation within the UK market and its collaborative partnering approach. The reliability of the platform’s integrated capabilities was a decisive factor for Lindsell Train in seeking to modernise its investment management processes and reduce operational friction.
Hex Trust and Haruko Integrate to Provide Real-Time Risk Governance for Institutional Digital Assets
Hex Trust, the digital assets financial services provider, has announced a strategic integration with the technology platform Haruko. This collaboration allows institutional clients to consolidate their regulated custody data, market activity, and staking performance into a single interface. By connecting Hex Trust’s multi-jurisdictional custody infrastructure with Haruko’s aggregation engine, the partnership aims to eliminate the data fragmentation often caused by managing assets across various exchanges and DeFi protocols.
The integration focuses on enhancing operational control and capital efficiency through holistic risk management. Clients can now access a unified view of their total exposure, allowing for more accurate credit and counterparty risk assessments. The system provides real-time performance reporting, including portfolio profit and loss and staking rewards, while ensuring data rigour for tax compliance and institutional reporting.
By automating the reconciliation of holdings and external trading data, the partnership addresses the growing governance needs of asset managers. This collaboration establishes a transparent framework for digital finance, providing the sophisticated risk analytics and pricing tools required for a professionalised investment ecosystem.
STP Investment Services Enhances Trade Data Management with SmartSettle AI Integration
STP Investment Services (STP) has updated its Lightspeed Trade Data Management System (TDMS) by integrating SmartSettle AI. This new module adds a layer of predictive intelligence to existing post-trade workflows, moving beyond standard automation. The integration provides STP’s settlement teams with real-time visibility and normalised data across various custodians, brokers, and asset classes, allowing for more precise tracking and reporting of trade fails.
The platform now features enhanced pre-matching, intelligent exception prioritisation, and earlier identification of potential financial penalties. By utilising predictive analytics, the system can identify settlement issues before they occur and provide automated inventory status notifications. These tools are designed to support timely recalls and reduce overall settlement risk, ensuring greater operational certainty for global investment firms.
This enhancement arrives as the industry prepares for tighter regulatory timelines. Following the US transition to T+1 settlement in 2024, the UK and EU are scheduled to follow suit in October 2027. The compressed cycle increases the risk of compliance errors and financial penalties. By implementing these AI-driven capabilities now, STP aims to provide firms with the visibility required to manage unmatched transactions and at-risk inventory ahead of these upcoming global shifts.