Thomson Reuters now offers an Investment Research Marketplace on its flagship desktop product Eikon, a solution that enables buy-side firms to purchase research from sell-side contributors designed to inform and complement their investment processes. This solution also helps facilitate buy-side compliance with MiFID II research unbundling requirements.

Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. (hereafter "Ping An" or "the Group", HKEx: 2318; SSE: 601318) is pleased to announce that three technology subsidiaries under the Group - Ping An Healthcare and Technology Company Limited (hereafter "Ping An Good Doctor"), Ping An Medical and Healthcare Management Co., Ltd. (hereafter "Ping An Healthcare Technology") and OneConnect Financial Technology Co., LTD (hereafter "OneConnect") - have recently completed private placement financing. 

The World Federation of Exchanges (“The WFE”), the global industry group for exchanges and CCPs, has agreed its 2018 business priorities will focus on areas including regulatory coherence; CCP recovery & resolution issues; cyber security; FinTech; and SMEs. 

Europe’s first international Blockchain Centre launched its operations in Vilnius - the capital of Lithuania - on 27th January, 2018.  The launch attracted entrepreneurs, investors, key decision-makers and experts from around the world.  It is the first facility of its kind on the continent.  The global network of Blockchain Centres includes Melbourne, Shanghai, and now, Vilnius.  It is a not-for-profit knowledge-hub, co-working space and incubator for blockchain technology companies. 

From IoT to peer-to-peer offerings, the PPRO Group - specialists in cross-border electronic payments - have predicted key online payment trends for the year ahead. With digitisation in the world of payments progressing by leaps and bounds, the following seven developments are expected to make waves in 2018.

Internet of Payments

Today Cisco announced the completion of its acquisition of BroadSoft. BroadSoft accelerates Cisco's cloud strategy and collaboration portfolio by adding the industry's leading cloud calling and contact center solutions to Cisco's leading calling, meetings, messaging, customer care, hardware endpoints and services portfolio.

Alipay, the world’s largest mobile payment and lifestyle platform, operated by Ant Financial Services Group, today announced that a group of Chinese travelers have concluded the first ever cashless journey to Finland, with all transactions throughout their trip made via their Alipay accounts.

For many of the 68 million workers in the gig and sharing economy in the United States, waiting for a distant payday is a luxury they can’t afford. They have urgent expenses that require payment for their services now.