While the UK and the US have jostled to be recognized as leading global FinTech centers, China hasleapfrogged ahead to become the undisputed global FinTech hub. The speed, sophistication and scale of development of China’s FinTech ecosystem have been at a level unmatched in more established markets.

After 12 years, Perivan, formerly part of the Williams Lea Group, is rebranding to consolidate separate business units under one name: Perivan Technology. As Perivan Technology the company is aiming to form the essential core of all regulated financial and professional businesses; its tools currently include cloud software solutions (Software-as-a-Service): Virtualboardroom, DotApprove, and RightSlide.

Silverfinch, the leading look-through and data distribution hub for client regulatory reporting, has launched three new capabilities to its datamodel in response to its clients’ changing regulatory requirements, creating a first to market four-in-one data solution.

Fidessa group plc announced that Prospector, its new liquidity tool for sales traders, has been voted Best Business Intelligence & Analytics Service in the Banking Technology Readers' Choice Awards. Now in their 17th year, the Banking Technology Awards recognise and reward excellence and innovation in the use of IT in financial services worldwide. This is the second industry award win for Prospector since its launch in March.

Growth Street, an alternative banking service provider for SMEs, announced today that it is now listed as an Appointed Representative (AR) on the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) Financial Services Register. Formerly a peer to peer (P2P) platform purely for incorporated businesses to lend and borrow from each other, this new status allows Growth Street to accept individuals as investors on the platform. By expanding the range of investors, Growth Street aspires to provide more businesses with a GrowthLine, its business overdraft alternative.

FlexTrade Systems, a global leader in multi-asset execution and order management systems, today announced its FlexTRADER execution management system (EMS) has won the “Best Trading and Execution Technology” category at the HFM European Hedge Fund Technology Awards 2016 ceremony, which was held at Plaisterers' Hall, London on 29 November.

Santander InnoVentures, the fintech venture capital fund of Santander Group, today announced its latest portfolio investment in Tradeshift, a leading business commerce and supply chain finance platform based in San Francisco. The Santander InnoVentures investment will be used to further broaden Tradeshift’s capabilities, fuel the development of its platform and grow the ecosystem surrounding its B2B marketplace.

It’s always great to attend Franklin Templeton’s unique innovation summit which took place for the third time this week. It brings together all sorts of new FinTech players, established firms, thought leaders and, crucially, outsiders to provide valuable insight into the direction of our industry (the fact it’s in Fort Lauderdale at this time of year doesn’t hurt either!).

Thomson Reuters is working with FX analytics specialist BestX to enable buy-side participants using Thomson Reuters FXall and FX Trading to streamline analysis of transaction costs, helping them define, achieve and demonstrate best execution.