The SecuritiesTechnology 2007 ranking showcases solution providers based on primary research conducted by Financial Insights exclusively drawn from the investment community. The research sample was comprised of 17,000 mid-level and senior technology users from the investment banking, investment management, wealth management, brokerage, and banking communities. Financial Insights analysts evaluated the completed entries in categories related to functional process areas, including brokerage and trading – front office; business infrastructure; investment management – front office; retail investing – front office; and investment management operations, and areas where trading and operations executives have direct interaction with the services provided. Financial Insights also asked participants to rate the solutions in use at their firm regarding ease of use, reliability, needs met, value, and whether they would recommend the solution.

The gold standard for this year's class of participants is SunGard; winning the #1 solution provider position in multiple categories. SunGard is a global leader in software and processing solutions for the financial industry serving more than 25,000 customers in over 50 countries. SunGard ranked #1 in four out of 11 categories: order management, execution management, portfolio management, and transaction cost analytics.

"Each of the firms represented in the list is contributing to transformation in the global capital markets in ways both large and small. These leading edge providers are helping to transform business processes as well as the whole look and feel of how business is managed and transacted in the capital markets industry," said Carol Curtis, special reports editor of Securities Industry News.

"Financial services institutions are demanding more in the way of speed and system performance, while also maintaining the necessary levels of accuracy, controls, and data management," said Julio Gomez, global head of research, Financial Insights. "Whether it's customizability of algorithms, connectivity to large numbers of liquidity pools, or aligning risk practices with profitability and capital management, these leading firms, such as SunGard, are expanding their offerings to gain competitive advantage while strengthening client relationships as is shown from the results of this 2007 ranking."

This annual ranking highlights the following categories of technology applications and the corresponding leading providers:

 

• SunGard – Execution Management, Order Management, Portfolio Management, and Transaction Cost Analytics
• Advent Software, Inc. – Portfolio Management (tied with SunGard)
• Thomson Corporation – Advisor Workstation and Business Analytics
• Bloomberg L.P. – Market Data and Transaction Cost Analytics (TCA tied with SunGard)
• National Financial, a Fidelity Investment Company – Operational Risk
• Pershing LLC – Advisor Workstation (tied with Thomson) and Market Risk
• LatentZero Ltd. – Compliance
• Salesforce.com, Inc. – CRM

 

In addition to the SecuritiesTechnology 2007 provider ranking, the 2007 survey revealed the leading institutional providers based on the view of over 70 technology providers. The most innovative financial institutions in their use of technology are:

• Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.


• Citigroup


• JP Morgan


• Merrill Lynch & Co.


• UBS


• Morgan Stanley


• Credit Suisse


• Lehman Brothers

 

For more information about the ranking or to receive a copy of the corresponding supplement, visit these Web sites – www.securitiesindustrynews.com or www.financial-insights.com. For further information on the program, contact David Greenough, vice president, Business Technology at SourceMedia – david.greenough@sourcemedia.com.