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By George Ralph, RFA – The use of Artificial Intelligence is becoming decidedly commonplace. Wikipedia describes AI research as “the study of intelligent agents: any device that perceives its environment and takes actions that maximise its chance of success at some goal.” AI is often used interchangeably with Machine Learning, which is described as the subfield of computer science that, according to Arthur Samuel, gives “computers the ability to learn without being explicitly programmed.”
Machine Learning more accurately describes the technology that we are seeing more and more often in the IT industry, with machines programmed to have neural networks,
Alternative asset manager Highland Capital Management has appointed Trey Parker as co-chief investment officer. Parker will join Highland co-founder Mark Okada in the CIO role overseeing the USD13 billion investment platform.
“This is a well-earned promotion for Trey,” says Okada. “For over a decade Trey has been a driver of operational alpha in numerous areas across the firm, from streamlining research and risk management processes to enhancing collaboration across disciplines – all motivated by improving client outcomes. He enters this role not only with the full support and respect from Jim and me, but also with that of the entire
Schultze Asset Management, an investment firm specialising in financially troubled and distressed companies, has hired William Skolnick as Vice President of Business Development and four new advisory board members.
In this new role, Skolnick will work to create new business opportunities and develop strategic initiatives to expand the firm’s client base.
“William is a seasoned and disciplined executive with a wealth of experience in the institutional and high-net-worth space,” says George Schultze, founder of Schultze Asset Management. “We’re pleased to have someone of his caliber join our ranks.”
Skolnick brings with him over 30 years of experience overseeing
ThinkMarkets, a fintech provider of financial derivatives trading, has expanded its offering of CFD trading to the four most liquid Crypto currencies. The firm added Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Ripple (XRP) and Litecoin (LTC) CFDs to its MT4 and Trade Interceptor trading platforms.
The dual regulated broker is now offering 24/7 leveraged trading on the most volatile virtual currencies with low spreads and competitive margins.
Nauman Anees (pictured), CEO & Co-founder, says: “Bitcoin CFDs are a natural extension of our vast portfolio of financial instruments that include; major currencies, stock indices, precious metals and commodities. The recent surge in
Kettera Strategies has expanded its Hydra global macro, FX, and commodity managed account marketplace with the launch of Hydra Global Hedge, offering access to equity-based hedge fund strategies.
“The new Hydra Global Hedge marketplace was built to answer the challenges investors face when trying to incorporate equity hedge fund strategies into their portfolios,” says Terri Engelman Rhoads (pictured), President of Kettera and an industry veteran who has built and run hedge fund managed account platforms for Guggenheim and others. “Investors will now be able to access equity-based hedge fund strategies through a limited liability vehicle but with the added features of
McKay Brothers International has added select futures from the London Metal Exchange to its Quincy Extreme Data (QED) service.
QED now offers select LME instruments at the lowest known latency at Slough-LD4 and Basildon in the UK, as well as at Frankfurt-FR2, Marseille-MRS1 and Madrid- BME. The LME data distributed at those POPs are 3-month futures for Copper (CA), Aluminum High Grade (AH), Tin (SN), Zinc (ZS), Nickel (NI) and Lead (PB).
Select LME futures are also available at QED POPs in New Jersey and Illinois.
“The LME is an established leader in setting prices for the global
Broadridge Financial Solutions has appointed Bob Santangelo (pictured), as President of International Sales, based out of the firm’s London office. In his new role, Santangelo will focus on international growth opportunities in EMEA and APAC.
Santangelo’s experience spans all aspects of capital markets, wealth management and investment management technology, operations and communications. He was previously responsible for Broadridge’s global Bank Broker-Dealer distribution channel, including global sales management, business development and strategic client initiatives. Santangelo joined Broadridge in 1992, when it was a division of ADP, and has served in various roles of increasing responsibility within the Global Sales and Marketing
The number of alternative fund managers marketing into Europe through Jersey’s national private placement regimes (NPPRs) continued to rise during the first half of 2017 whilst there has been a strong uptake in the latest addition to Jersey’s regulatory regime, according to mid-year figures from Jersey’s regulator the Jersey Financial Services Commission (JFSC).
As at 30 June 2017, 131 alternative investment fund managers (AIFMs) had been authorised in Jersey to market into Europe through NPPRs under the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD), up 14 per cent compared to the same time last year.
In addition, the total number
Barclays has expanded its offering of Quantitative Investments Strategies with the launch of the Novus Barclays Public Ownership HF Conviction Index Family, designed in conjunction with Novus.
The new indices aim to provide an alternative to market capitalisation weighted indices with a distinctive way to identify the key investment ideas of hedge funds. The indices also leverage some of the academic work done in this area of investing coupled with insights generated during the research and development phase.
In addition to the long-only indices, there will be market-hedged index versions, which hold a long position in the Novus Barclays
The European Energy Exchange (EEX) is to introduce futures on wood pellets, which will be available for Trade Registration as of 19 September 2017.
The offering includes financially-settled future contracts on industrial wood pellets. The product will be a monthly future which can be traded up to 36 consecutive months with a contract size of 100 metric tonnes. For the settlement EEX uses the Argus Wood Pellets cif ARA index as published in “Argus Biomass Markets”.
Wood pellets are used for energy production and are a substitute product for coal. With this new product, EEX is expanding its portfolio
