Episode 141: Brexit and Blockchain and Data, Oh My

This week, Anthony and James look at key themes that arose at several conferences from around the globe over the last two weeks: Brexit and how it will impact Mifid II, disillusionment with blockchain, and data quality challenges. 2:00 Shocking, there are major data challenges relating to Mifid II, according to the chairman of the Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF) Robert Ophéle. Get this: there’s a lot of regulatory arbitrage, the data quality being reported “leaves much to be desired” and they may need to enact “a number of legislative fixes.” https://www.waterstechnology.com/reference-data-data-management/data-governance/3908211/financial-watchdog-mifid-ii-data-quality-difficult 10:30 Another shocker, some exchanges are not quite finding value stemming from their blockchain proofs-of-concept. Fortunately, we have Nouriel Roubini to speak some truth to power. https://www.waterstechnology.com/trading-floor-technologies/3908021/exchanges-still-seeking-blockchain-uses https://www.banking.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Roubini%20Testimony%2010-11-18.pdf 17:00 And the more things change, the more they stay the same: firms still struggle with data quality and data governance, even as they look to explore new tools, such as machine learning, and new streams of information, such as alternative data. https://www.waterstechnology.com/operations/3908456/experts-warn-on-data-quality-for-ai-projects https://www.waterstechnology.com/market-data-data-analytics/data-consumers/3909501/for-buy-side-esg-alt-data-are-necessary-cost-to-recapture-alpha 31:00 From a non-industry perspective, it’s Mental Illness Awareness Week and Anthony relates it back to a new book about Abraham Lincoln. To lighten things up a bit, James recommends some sci-fi books. If you are so inclined, you can donate to MIND, the mental health charity, or the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation, which awards grants to those making advancements in the understanding of numerous mental disorders. https://www.mind.org.uk/ https://www.bbrfoundation.org/