Fintech, Finance, Technology, Banking Highlights – 16 July 2018
Thomson Reuters makes real-time data easily accessible in the cloud as part of plans to deliver all its financial data and tools in the cloud
In a major step forward for the consumption of financial data in the cloud, Thomson Reuters is making its comprehensive real-time data accessible in the cloud to make it easier for firms to power their cloud-based business applications with real time pricing information.
This means clients will have increased flexibility in how they use the data, from portfolio management to analytics or post trade uses, whether they need the data on-premise, in the cloud or on mobile.
The new delivery option can simplify access to real-time price information across the financial community and beyond by taking away the need to invest in on-premise infrastructure. It also helps clients be more nimble by helping accelerate time to market for businesses that need access to real-time data.
The Thomson Reuters Financial & Risk business is committed to making all its trusted data and services available easily to clients in the cloud via the Elektron Data Platform. The Elektron Data Platform is an integrated content and capabilities platform designed to enable clients to get the data and analytics they need from a single trusted platform with the ability to integrate their own data, offering a range of delivery options to distribute information to wherever it is needed.
The enhancement to the Elektron Data Platform will initially provide access to real-time data on the secure and scalable Amazon Web Service (AWS) Cloud in North America, with plans to expand to Europe and Asia later this year. With the cloud API, data can be consumed natively on AWS, directed to applications based in other cloud environments, or to an on-premise environment.
PPRO Group Partners with YapStone to Bring Alternative Payment Methods to Global Marketplaces
PPRO Group, a cross-border e-payment specialist, announced it will enable online marketplace payments provider YapStone to offer Alternative Payment Methods (APMs) also referred to as Local Payment Methods (LPMs).
The move will expand YapStone’s global e-commerce reach across the travel, vacation rental and new online marketplaces and software partnerships. YapStone’s customers will now be able to access dozens of APMs from around the world, including iDEAL and SOFORT, allowing its merchants’ customers to transact seamlessly and securely through their preferred payment options. As part of this partnership, PPRO provides APMs for cross-border e-commerce and YapStone facilitates the processing, collection and settlement for the merchants.
According to eMarketer, global e-commerce increased by 25 percent last year to more than $2.3 trillion. An uptick in global online spending has brought increased interest in APMs. PPRO’s research affirms that alternative payment methods are the preferred option of making online purchases in many countries. In various markets across the globe, 50 percent of online transactions involve APMs.
“Empowering customers to transact online using APMs is vital to global marketplaces,” says Bruce Dragt, EVP of Product at YapStone. “We are proud to deliver best-in-class payment solutions to our customers, through this partnership with PPRO, as we welcome this new era in which specific consumer groups demand APMs as the payment method of choice.”
Accuity acquires Safe Banking Systems (SBS)
SBS is a specialist provider of innovative Know Your Customer due diligence and anti-money laundering solutions that enable financial institutions to identify, assess and manage risk across the enterprise. SBS’s solutions perform advanced false positive reduction and risk assessment in the account screening process across a number of sectors, including high volume banks and non-bank financial institutions, bringing greater intelligence for entity resolution to clients worldwide.
Accuity, part of RELX Group, is a leading provider of innovative solutions for payments and compliance professionals, offering comprehensive data and software that manage risk and compliance, and flexible tools that optimise payments pathways through its Fircosoft, Bankers Almanac and NRS brands.
SBS is already a long-standing partner of Accuity’s Fircosoft business, leveraging the Fircosoft filter in its solutions. Accuity and SBS share many mutual customers, which benefit from their complementary offerings. This acquisition will allow Accuity to strengthen these benefits to clients as they face an evolving, complex and costly regulatory environment, providing Accuity with an enhanced and leading account screening solution, and complementing its transaction and trade screening offerings.
Hugh M. Jones IV, Accuity President & CEO, said: “SBS has an impressive track record of delivering award-winning technology and deep subject matter expertise, enabling clients to truly take a risk-based approach that advances the field far beyond traditional matching technologies. The business shares Accuity’s ambition to be a trusted partner to clients, protecting their reputations and transforming the way they manage risk. We look forward to welcoming the SBS team and collaborating to strengthen our Fircosoft solutions.”
Cryptocurrency platform Gimmer introduces trading bots
Gimmer, an automated cryptocurrency trading platform, launches its unique service which uses trading bots to make calculated decisions so anyone can get involved in the world of crypto.
The decentralized platform allows anyone to trade cryptocurrencies by utilizing advanced algorithmic trading bots that require no programming skills. With their ‘plug and play’ style platform, you simply need to make an account and the decision-making bots do all the work for you. The platform is not only useful for those who have no previous experience or understanding of the crypto world, but also for advanced traders who don’t have time to watch the markets all day long.
Gimmer works by connecting customers to a cryptocurrency exchange via API and then uses algorithmic trading bots and in the future, AI Bots, to make the trades on behalf of the customer. The user sets parameters and the bots then get on with the work.
The platform was launched after its founders realized trading and investing in cryptocurrencies was a time-consuming and complex process. Having success and making money from trading not only depends on skills and knowledge of the market but also luck, with the highly volatile cryptocurrencies rapidly losing and gaining value.
Those who want to get involved in this increasingly mainstream activity are normally required to constantly monitor their trades. Though this isn’t always practical. Gimmer is filling the void for those who want to be a part of the crypto revolution but may have other jobs and activities they need to undertake.
