Mark Grimes

A big milestone reached today with the launch of the Bank/FCA Digital Securities Sandbox (DSS). Well done to everyone who helped us to get to this stage today. And thank you to everyone who engaged in our consultation and industry body roundtables – your contributions have helped improve the design and operation of the DSS. We've made several changes from the initial consultation, including:   - More flexibility in firm-level limit allocations, with additional review points for firms to progress - Lower, more proportionate minimum capital requirements to encourage start-ups to join the DSS - Expansion of eligible assets to include non-GBP denominated securities - The introduction of a regular discussion forum for DSS entrants and regulators. See below for more info! Kushal Balluck Alex Gee Noreen Rana Alexandra Haydock Charles Gundy Nagi Tateno Rebecca Gunn James Thatcher Pavel Chichkanov Francesco Fici Charlotte Kelly Ali Aswad Justin Jacobs Helen Boyd Carmel Deenmamode James Webbe Aditya Bandyopadhyay #digitalassets #tokenization #tokenisation #sandbox

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This is going to be a game changer if governments have the will and legislation roadmap to see it through. The ability to have data portability between companies , in effect a ‘data passport’ for individuals, businesses and NGO’s with appropriate data governance, security, data privacy etc will accelerate growth , unlock the power of data. Combining curated data sets from different companies and integrating these to create specific insight and models for AI generated decision making will propel the AI Revolution we are currently going through. There will be multiple hurdles , and this is where the ecosystem of regulated firms, innovative data and tech companies, legal firms, consulting firms and importantly regulators can develop frameworks to create innovation whilst protecting customer data in the way the customer wants….(designed from a consumer / customer standpoint) This will also require the thorny subject of international data transfers to be approached for equivalence to be understand between the multiple data protection regimes exist impacting multi-nationals. Exciting times ahead, there will be a few missteps but the country and the FS ecosystem which innovates in this space will see the financial return (together with the customer benefits)…. ‘Central to the body’s plans is a call for ministers to embrace so-called smart data, a form of “data portability” that allows companies to more easily transfer information. Then-Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said last Autumn he wanted to “kickstart a smart data big bang” by overhauling data rules.’ #smartdata #data #datasharing #datatrusts #datacontracts #fintech #datapassport

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Watch: ICG Enterprise Trust PLC Portfolio companies growing earnings and widening margins In this interview, with Mark Thomas, Analyst at Hardman & Co, we explore his recent report on ICG Enterprise Trust. We look at the performance of ICGT’s portfolio companies, examining the resilience and growth they’ve demonstrated in the current economic climate. The conversation highlights the trust’s strategic approach to value creation and capital allocation, discussing how it navigates market challenges while maintaining strong returns. Additionally, we touch on broader market perceptions and the factors influencing investment attractiveness in the private equity sector. Mark provides a comprehensive overview, offering valuable perspectives on the trust’s performance and strategy. ICG Enterprise Trust is a leading listed private equity investor focused, on creating long-term growth by delivering consistently strong returns through selectively investing in profitable private companies, primarily in Europe and the US. #Investing #Growth #Stocks #Trust #Insights #Analysis #PrivateEquity #Europe #USA

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Looking forward to another great webinar on the topic of cloud resilience and recovery with some excellent speakers Register for free here: https://lnkd.in/egVEYQzm #operationalresilience #cloudresilience #cloud #cloudmigration #recoveryplans #businesscontinuity

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See below a short blog about how Demica's platform is helping bank and non-bank investors to manage risk in the arena of Structured Trade Finance.

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Prominent investment adviser Gary Black has raised serious concerns about the valuation of MicroStrategy Incorporated (MSTR), arguing that the stock of the company may in fact be significantly overpriced. In a recent post on X, Black, managing partner at The Future Fund LLC, expressed confusion after pointing out that the Bitcoin (BTC) holdings of MicroStrategy were valued at $31.2 billion at the time, with a net debt of $4.2 billion, resulting in an equity value of around $27 billion. Yet, its market cap stood at an eye-popping $106 billion. Read the full story on the CryptoWeekly website using our link below. #cryptocurrency #crypto #microstrategy #investment #stock

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This week, Morningstar published its in-depth annual review of the UK Managed Portfolios landscape. This showed that there has been a steep decline in the number of UK managed portfolios labelled as active, as providers grapple with cost pressures. Read more in Ignites Europe. https://lnkd.in/e9VW_Pn8 #activefunds #passivefunds #ManagedPortfolios

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Read my latest on the 'problem with data lakes' and why they are now required more than ever given the FCA outcomes focused strategy, to ensure RegTech can deliver meaningful data analytics and reports based on synthetic client bank data. Having worked on this issue with the FCA a while back, I argue tech firms who hold client data and do not allow access to a synthetic data lake, could be viewed as a barrier to on-going client good outcomes under the Consumer Duty...Your thoughts? #tech #ai #regtech #dataanalytics #datalake

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Alex has a great summary of the BlackRock - Preqin deal here. And his excellent Substack is quickly becoming part of my weekly required reading!

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In a turbulent market, transformative transactions can accelerate the change your business needs. Find out more, including PwC UK insights in this Financial Times article. https://on.ft.com/3L0AXtD #BeTransformative #Transformation #HumanLedTechPowered

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What’s behind Nvidia’s stock price rise? Our Chief Investment Officer, Steven Latham, CFA, CFP, explains the factors driving Nvidia’s price to be one of the top three largest companies in the world. ➡See the full June market update video to hear how Nvidia’s remarkable stock performance is influencing the S&P 500: https://lnkd.in/gMqxH66m

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The Asset Finance Connect conference is just around the corner! Excited to connect with industry friends and fellow professionals and learn about the latest industry trends. Looking forward to seeing everyone there! #AFCconference #FIS #networking #professionaldevelopment

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Yesterday, Baker Ing, in partnership with FIS and the Chartered Institute of Credit Management (CICM), hosted a forum on Optimising Commercial Growth Whilst Balancing Credit Risk at the stunning Walbrook Building in London. We were thrilled to welcome credit and finance professionals from across industries to share insights, explore trends, and discuss the evolving role of credit management in supporting sustainable growth and resilience. Key Takeaways: 🔮 Economic Outlook 2025 Markus Kuger, Baker Ing’s Chief Economic Advisor, offered a data-rich analysis of the year ahead, covering stabilising inflation, global growth challenges, and the impact of geopolitical uncertainty. 📌 Want the full insights? Download Markus’s presentation here: https://lnkd.in/e_8J-bBb 💡 Aligning Credit and Sales for Growth Lisa Baker-Reynolds MCICM, Baker Ing’s CEO, shared her actionable strategies for bridging the gap between credit and sales, positioning credit professionals as strategic enablers of growth. 📌 Get Lisa’s presentation and learn how credit meets strategy: Download here: https://lnkd.in/eF6p5TTk 🤖 The Future of O2C Aida Issazadeh MCICM from FIS delved into how AI and machine learning are revolutionising credit management, providing insights into risk assessment and vulnerability detection. As a special thanks, we’ve made Lisa’s presentation viewable in full right here on LinkedIn below. Explore a thought-provoking framework for aligning credit and sales to drive organisational success. To all our incredible speakers, attendees, and collaborators - thank you for making this event such a success. A special shoutout to Aida Issazadeh MCICM for her flawless coordination and to Chartered Institute of Credit Management (CICM) for their continued support. Missed the event? Don’t worry — we’ll be sharing more takeaways and highlights in the days ahead. Here’s to the future of credit management — stronger, smarter, and more connected than ever 👍 #CreditManagement #CICM #BakerIng #OptimisingGrowth #AI #FinanceInnovation #ReceivablesManagement

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Some pretty shocking prints for PMI in UK and Europe this morning. Listen to what our head of strategy Mo has to say about the data and its affect on markets. #FundamentalAnalysis #TradingStrategy #LearnToTrade

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Yorke O'Leary, our COO and Co-Founder, on receiving FCA authorisation: “Securing FCA approval to operate a regulated MTF for FX options trading is a significant milestone for OptAxe and represents a step-change in how the industry operates. We help firms address key challenges from accessing, recycling and clearing FX options risk; to inefficient distribution practices, complex price discovery methods; and expensive execution outcomes.” Read our press release here: https://lnkd.in/daKUUxJa 

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“Sell in May and go way, don’t come back until St Leger’s Day” is a saying that many investors will have heard. This interesting piece looks at what this actually means and if you can really beat the market on a predictable basis. Our key point to clients remains that once you have chosen a strategy that suits your needs and risk profile, returns may depend on time in the market rather than timing the markets. A well-balanced, diversified portfolio would be built to take into account the ups and downs of the market in achieving its objective. #quintaswealthmanagement #knowingwhatcounts #weknowwhatcounts #wealthmanagement #investing #investments #pensions #retirementplanning #financialplanning #ad https://lnkd.in/gGtd-yNZ

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Thursday saw a 4% increase in Barclays shares as the British lender returned to profit amid a significant strategic makeover, reporting first-quarter net income attributable to shareholders of £1.55 billion ($1.93 billion), exceeding forecasts. Based on LSEG statistics, analysts anticipated a net profit attributable to shareholders of £1.29 billion for the quarter. Follow for more such content. Stay informed on the latest business news by visiting our website - https://buff.ly/3w3pENB #globalbusinessandfinancemagazine #businessnews #news #internationalnews #business #globalbusiness #globenews #newsupdates #todaysupdates #latestnews #globalupdates

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