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A-Team Insight Brief

Peel Hunt Renews with ION Fidessa as Long-Term Partner to Grow its Equity Market Business

ION Markets, the global provider of trading, analytics, and risk management solutions for capital markets, has announced that broker and market maker Peel Hunt has selected ION as a long-term partner to grow its equity market making business in European markets, using ION’s Fidessa Trading Platform. Peel Hunt provides execution services across global markets, and began using the Fidessa Trading Platform nearly 20 years ago. As the firm enters its next phase of growth, ION remains its preferred partner, according to the firm.

Dow Jones, ADC Unveil New ESG Data Services

The universe of ESG data services has expanded with Dow Jones and Amsterdam Data Collective (ADC) announcing the creation of new offerings for financial institutions. New York-based Down Jones will sell data sets comprising sustainability scores on more than 6,000 listed companies. The company said the service would also provide “uniquely news driven” data to supplement self-reported corporate information. Dutch data consultancy ADC said it has opened a new analytics practice that will focus solely on sustainability and climate change. The unit will be led by former Bank of England and ING consultant Julia van Huizen.

Qotingo Further Expands With Addition of RepRisk Data

Risk analytics and indexing platform Qotingo has added ESG risk data from RepRisk to its client offering. RepRisk’s artificial intelligence-backed analyses and ESG data will be available to users of Qotingo’s Axioma Portfolio Analytics (APA) platform. It will also be used to build indexes within Qotingo’s STOXX brands. This is Qontingo’s latest addition to its APA after earlier this month announcing the inclusion of feeds from Sustainalytics, ISS and Clarity AI.

RightShip Launches Carbon Accounting Tools for Cargo Vessels

Shipping risk assessment company RightShip has launched a carbon accounting suite of tools to calculate cargo vessel’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The Carbon Accounting Reporting Tool measures, monitors and benchmarks shipping-related emissions, which are thought to account for 3 per cent of total global GHG creation. The product comes as the European Union prepares to require financial institutions to report supply-chain emissions data as it continues to roll out its Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation.

Today – Final Call for Comment on the DSB’s Latest Consultation Paper Covering the UPI

Today, 19 January 2022, is the deadline for industry feedback on the Derivatives Service Bureau’s (DSB) consultation on the legal terms and conditions, and client support model expected to apply to users of the Unique Product Identifier (UPI) Service, which is due to be launched later this year. The consultation sets out the proposals for users of the UPI Service as well as highlighting the user experience of firms already using the DSB’s OTC ISIN Service. You can make final comments on the UPI consultation paper until 5pm today.

ISSB Seeks Applicants to Fill 11 Seats

The search is on for members to sit on the IFRS Foundation’s recently created International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB). The Foundation said it is looking for applicants to fill 11 seats on the ISSB, which is chaired by former Danone and Ryanair executive Emmanuel Faber. The board will eventually comprise 14 members including Faber and a vice chairman, who is to be selected soon. The creation of the ISSB – seen by many as major step towards creating a global set of standards for ESG reporting – was announced at the COP26 UN climate summit in November.

IBM Buys Environmental Performance Monitor Envizi

Envizi has been acquired by IBM, with the tech giant set to incorporate the environmental data and analytics provider’s software into its own suite of artificial intelligence-driven performance tools. Envizi’s solutions enable companies to measure their environmental impact based on 500 data points. New York-based IBM said the tech would build on its own tools for financial institutions – IBM Maximo asset management solutions, IBM Sterling supply chain solutions and IBM Environmental Intelligence Suite. It will also be incorporated into IBM’s Turbonomic and Red Hat OpenShift capabilities, which automate decision-making based on operational factors including greenhouse gas emissions.

Qotingo to Incorporate Sustainalytics, ISS, Clarity AI Data

Sustainability data provided by Sustainalytics, ISS and Clarity AI will now be available to clients of risk analytics and indexing platform Qotingo. The three vendors’ feeds will be incorporated in Qotingo’s cloud-hosted Axioma Portfolio Optomizer (APO). Sustainalytics’ data will also be included in the company’s Axioma Portfolio Analytics (APA) for performance attribution and reporting, and Axioma Risk Model Machine (RMM), which enables users to customise risk models. Qotingo said the new feeds would give its financial clients the ability to model portfolios, calculate their own ESG risk exposures and generate performance measurements.

Avelacom Launches JPX Connectivity Solutions

Avelacom, a low latency connectivity and infrastructure provider, has launched colocation and network services with Japan Exchange Group (JPX) and has become one of the exchange’s arrownet-Global Partner Network vendors. Avelacom has been increasing its presence in Tokyo over the past four years, by opening a branch office in Tokyo, operating points-of-presence (PoPs) in several data centres, and obtaining permission from the local telecommunications authority to provide telecommunications services in Japan. Customers both inside and outside of Japan can now directly access JPX’s exchanges and markets in cash equities, commodities, and derivatives via Avelacom’s connectivity solutions.

Delta Capita Expands Scale and Reach with Acquisition of JDX Consulting

Delta Capita, a provider of managed services, solutions and consulting to capital markets participants, has acquired JDX Consulting, a resource augmentation and consulting business headquartered in the UK and with presence in the US and APAC. The acquisition is part of Delta Capita parent Prytek technology group’s commitment to allocate $500 million to accelerate development and deployment of the Delta Capita managed services platform. It also brings Delta Capita to a total of 1,100 staff and revenues of $130 million.