African Stock Exchange (AFSX) plans to use the technology and support services of Deutsche Börse's Xetra trading venue. The AFSX is a start-up based in Mauritius with the objective of offering securities trading for the whole of Africa. Xetra trading participants will have easier access to the African financial markets in future through the Deutsche Börse infrastructure.

Just as we’re all getting used to the idea of having to flag algos on an EU-wide basis under MiFID II by 2017, the French regulator recently published further guidance under the French banking bill that came into force in July last year.

Tegile Systems, the leading provider of flash-driven storage arrays for databases, virtualised server and virtual desktop environments, has announced that International Decision Systems, a provider of software and consulting services to more than 250 customers in 34 countries, has implemented Tegile hybrid arrays to improve its data centre capabilities.

Fundtech, a market leader in global transaction banking solutions, has announced that India’s third largest private bank, Axis Bank, has gone live with Fundtech’s flagship cash management solution, Global CASHplus, for remittances. The solution enables Axis Bank to efficiently process cross border remittances by automating the money transfer process for retail customers.

The Payments Council reported its latest dashboard for the new Current Account Switch Service, covering the first full 12-month period from the start of October 2013 to the end of September 2014. 

More than two-thirds of people (69%) in the UK are now aware of the Current Account Switch Service - up from 60% in October 2013. Customer confidence in the new service is similarly high, increasing slightly from 61% to 62% over the same time period.

Nasdaq  (Nasdaq: NDAQ) has announced that the trading in Global Warning System Production AB (shortname: GWS) shares commenced on First North at Nasdaq Stockholm. Global Warning System belongs to the Technology sector and is the 33rd company to be admitted to trading on First North’s Nordic markets (Stockholm, Helsinki, Copenhagen and Iceland) in 2014.

The automation of IT processes is a crucial factor in the success of future technologies and trends such as big data and cloud services, according to new research released by Automic. Looking at technologies and trends including big data, cloud services, mobile applications and consumerisation of IT, the findings reveal that across the board middle managers consider IT Automation to be more important than other groups.

Neonet, the independent agency broker and execution specialist, has announced that it is providing access for clients to Aquis Exchange, the subscription-based European equities exchange.

“We are very pleased to welcome Neonet as a new Member of Aquis Exchange,” said Graham Dick, Head of Sales & CRM at Aquis Exchange. “Neonet is the latest addition to Aquis’s growing list of participants, who are attracted by our unique subscription pricing model and innovative new products.”

As an operator of financial market infrastructure, SIX supports the intention of the Federal Council to regulate financial market infrastructure and derivatives trading through a law. SIX recognizes that the legislation proposed at the beginning of September is pragmatic and feasible, and that it is largely based on international standards.

MasterCard and Visa has recently released the technical specifications for tokenization. Tokenization is the next generation security for mobile cloud based payments and other secure mobile services.