PARTNER CONTENT
S&P Global Market Intelligence, a provider of financial and industry data, research, news, and analytics, was named Data Provider of the Year at the Hedgeweek® European Awards 2026. Nathan Kirk, Managing Director, Head of Business Development – Pricing & Reference Data, outlines what sets the firm apart and how it helps clients address current and future challenges and opportunities.
Describe your core service offering and how it uniquely addresses the current needs of European hedge fund managers.
S&P Global Market Intelligence delivers precise, real-time insights and regulatory-aligned global data. It integrates financial, industry, research, and news into tools
enabling performance tracking, alpha generation, idea sourcing, valuation, and credit risk assessment. Investment professionals, governments, corporations, and
universities rely on this intelligence to make more confident business and financial decisions.
Which market developments or regulatory shifts do you anticipate will most significantly impact your service delivery model in the coming year?
2025 and 2026 were marked by seismic structural trends. Geopolitical risk and macroeconomic uncertainty returned to the fore, triggering bouts of sustained, material
volatility. We expect this to continue in the coming year. This poses challenges for data vendors and for client expectations that accuracy and timeliness of data can be
maintained during volatile periods. Alongside market oscillations, the financial industry is adjusting to the exciting evolution of artificial intelligence. Hedge funds increasingly expect data vendors to adopt this new technology, develop new products and deliver data in an “AI-ready” format.
What strategic initiatives is your firm implementing to address these expected changes?
The volatility evident in 2025–2026 highlighted the need not only for accurate, timely data and valuations, but also context. Hedge funds, across the portfolio management, risk and valuation functions, now expect additional information that can help them explain market movements. In response to this need, S&P Global Market Intelligence is developing data and tools that provide the necessary context. In fixed income cash securities and OTC derivatives, our service will incorporate analytics that allow funds to assess what factors are driving valuations. AI and machine learning are part of that process, and our LLM tools will help clients extract value from the data.
How have your services specifically helped hedge fund clients navigate operational complexities and market challenges throughout 2025-26?
European hedge funds – like their counterparts in North America – employ a number of strategies. We have seen growth in long-short credit funds, using a variety of
instruments to generate alpha – including cash instruments as well as synthetic tools such as credit default swaps.
The leveraged part of the credit spectrum—high-yield bonds, leveraged loans, CLOs and private credit—is under scrutiny, but institutional investors continue to deploy
capital. Our services in this area have helped hedge funds expand into this relatively opaque corner of the credit markets.
Beyond Europe, which regions are you experiencing the strongest growth, and how are you adapting your service offering to meet the distinct needs of these markets?
North America possesses the world’s largest, deepest capital markets and we continue to grow our considerable footprint in this region. The high level of sophistication of
funds – notably the multi-strategy institutions – places an onus on vendors to deliver data and valuations through mechanisms that ensure rapid decision-making. Our
investment in technology ensures we are able to meet this demand across all asset classes.
The Middle East and APAC are also experiencing strong growth. It is important to recognise that these are not homogeneous regions, and have a wide variety in investor
sophistication and regulatory regimes. Our services have adapted accordingly to reflect this diversity.
Nathan Kirk, Managing Director, Head of
Business Development – Pricing & Reference
Data
