Horizon Software (Horizon), the leading provider of electronic trading and algorithmic technology, today announced that Korea Investment & Securities Asia Limited (KISA), one of the leading Korean securities brokerage houses in Hong Kong, has deployed Horizon’s Platform for ETF Market Making connecting to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (SEHK).

I have previously written about what insurance needs to do to bounce back after a traumatic year as personal claims soared, credits and rebates were proffered, demand for L&I flagged, health cover exposure became a conundrum and contact centres everywhere bowed under demand. Even before, this was a sector beset by the throes of technological change, new consumer habits, giant challengers and fresh-faced startups.

As in most other commercial fields, the COVID-19 crisis forced banking sector participants and their ilk into reactive mode. As a result, many fintech strategies were abandoned, shelved, or amended on the fly.

Nevertheless, whether despite the pandemic or because of it, several trends of financial software development survived the social and economic turbulence. 

Financial markets become more and more unpredictable by the day. How do you account for a ship blocking the Suez Canal? What could prepare you for a global pandemic, emerging markets or Redditors taking on Wall Street? Among these new external factors, we are seeing the hugely positive drive towards greater financial inclusion; from modern banks reducing transaction fees and encouraging the flow of cash across borders, through to disruptive startups using big data to redesign lending models and risk assessment.

Most businesses will complete regular risk assessments as standard practice. They’re crucial to reducing the threat of financial or reputational loss and give you an overview of the high-risk areas you must address.

AnitaB.org, the global non-profit focused on intersectional gender and pay parity in tech, today announced that internationally renowned human rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize recipient, Malala Yousafzai, will participate in the organization’s first-ever Grace Hopper Celebration in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). The event will take place virtually on May 25-27, 2021.

Maurizio Kaiser, co-founder of ikigai, comments on their Crowdcube launch: 

“Today we’re announcing our £1.2 million crowdfunding round on Crowdcube. 
As one of the first UK fintech to integrate wealth management and everyday banking into one app, we have already raised £2m to date via pre-seed investment, with the backing of angel investors. Now with Crowdcube, we’re opening up the chance for our community and peers to join us on this journey and be part of our growing success.  

Red Hat, Inc., the world’s leading provider of open source solutions, today announced that leading organizations from around the world are using Red Hat managed cloud services to buil

GFT and Vodeno, a fully cloud-based Banking-as-a-Service  provider, aim to accelerate clients’ digital transition to new cloud-native technologies. Together  they will enable banks to significantly reduce IT and compliance costs while also enabling banks  to be more responsive, improving customer experience. For this purpose, the two companies  have formed a multi-year, global strategic partnership. As part of the agreement, GFT will  support Vodeno’s expansion with development, QA testing and implementation services.  

The global rollout of 5G technology happens three to four times faster than any other connectivity transformation. Expected to grow at a CAGR of 29.4%, the 5G services market is projected to reach a volume of USD 249.2 bn by 2026. This vast development will soon ensure global hyperconnectivity, amplifying the demand for wireless and cloud solutions.