NIBA Journal

Insights, analysis, and updates from the National Introducing Brokers Association

Member Announcements
3 min read

Quant Essentials Panelists

Quantitative Research and Trading The content we provide is global, and covers all the financial data you need for your quantitative research to take an idea from idea generation, to back-testing and analysis, and then on to production. Beyond economic and financial data, however, we give you access to breaking news, environmental, social and governance performance, and corporate guidance. Our own team of quantitative analysts creates extra value with weighted analyst consensus estimates, predictive analyst revision and earnings quality models, and long-term earnings projections that drive company valuations. Market analysis Data management solutions Predictive modeling Machine Readable News and MarketPsych Indices Backtest systematic investment models Historical tick data Investment alpha   Austin Burkett, Global Head of Quant and Feeds at Thomson Reuters At BlueMountain, we seek to build an enduring partnership that consistently meets the expectations of our investors. We are a diversified alternative asset manager and use an interdisciplinary...

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Member Announcements
2 min read

Quant Corner Participants

Program Name: University of Chicago Financial Mathematics Program Program Description: The M.S. in Financial Mathematics at The University of Chicago is a 15 month program beginning each year in the autumn, with students graduating the following December. Classes are taught by leading academic researchers and industry professionals, and the curriculum includes courses in Algorithmic Trading, Options Pricing, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Risk Management, and Statistical Inference. Students gain real-world experience throughout the academic year by participating in Project Labs – collaborative quantitative research projects with firms throughout the world – and by completing summer internships. Stop by during the conference to learn more about our program and how we can connect you with students prepared to make a significant impact in the quant finance industry. Key Contact: Alma Ceballos (almaceballos@uchicago.edu) and Emily Backe (ebacke@uchicago.edu) Program Name: Master of Science in Financial Economics Program Description: The Master of Science in Financial...

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Member Announcements
1 min read

FinTech Exchange 2018

NIBA Members Receive an Additional $100 Off (Discount already applied) Alternative Data.  Trading Innovation.  Blockchain in Capital Markets.  And, of course Cryptocurrencies are headline topics for 2018!  And, don't miss our new Startup Exchange Competition the day prior to the main FinTech Exchange Event.  Back for its 4th year in Chicago on April 25 & 26, FinTech Exchange is the leading event for financial markets and trading technology. Hear from top industry experts and firms such as Cboe Global Markets, Kraken, Tibco, Alibaba Cloud, CME Group, DataRobot, Sterling Trading Tech, Gate 39 Media and Vela. Plus we're offering you an EXCLUSIVE offer which gives NIBA members an additional $100 off ticket prices with promo code "NIBA". FinTech Exchange is a sold out show every year, so grab your ticket before they are all gone! Register for FinTech Exchange (NIBA discount already applied)

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Member Announcements
1 min read

CME Market Data Fee Increase

Effective April 1, 2018, CME Group will increase the monthly Real Time: Professional Market Data Fee to $105 per month per exchange, from $85 per month per exchange. Please click here for details related to these fees.  Additionally, CME Group will begin to charge market data fees for CME Direct users in Q2 2018. Clients who trade on CME Direct may be eligible for fee waivers based on trading activity. Final details will be available by end of Q1 2018. Please click here for details related to this new policy.

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Member Announcements
2 min read

NFA Annual Member Meeting Report

In early February, NFA held its Annual Member Meeting. NIBA attended and asked NFA staff several questions suggested by NIBA association members. The answers to two of the questions asked was printed in our February newsletter. This is a third question, and NFA's response. Q: What does the NFA do to monitor FCM Segregated Accounts? A: Investor protection is a key element of NFA's mission, and the segregation of customer funds by an FCM is an important aspect of investor protection. Each FCM has a designated self-regulatory organization (DSRO) that is primarily responsible for monitoring that FCM for compliance with NFA rules and CFTC regulations, among other things. NFA performs routine annual risk-based exams of the FCMs for which it is the DSRO. In addition to annual exams, NFA also has measures in place that enhance its ongoing risk monitoring of FCMs that hold customer funds report their customer segregated,...

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Member Announcements
1 min read

The Impact of US LNG Exports On The Global Gas Market

New Whitepaper: The Impact of US LNG Exports On The Global Gas Market The LNG market is undergoing a seismic shift driven primarily by the transformation in demand/supply dynamics and market structure. This has facilitated the greater integration of traditionally fragmented regional markets and accelerated the emergence of new market entrants. The combination of these factors has led to the growing commodization of LNG, which is evolving into a global commodity comparable to oil. The new landscape requires new portfolio optimization approaches and commercial considerations. Access Report to Learn More

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Member Announcements
2 min read

Chairman's Letter - March 2018

March was named after Mars, the Roman god of war and an ancestor of the Roman people through his sons Romulus and Remus. March is the first month of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. March is widely thought of as the month when the earth becomes dry enough so that it is possible to cultivate in many cultures. In American culture, March Madness - my personal favorite time of the sports year - is a prominent theme! March is another busy month for the NIBA. Traditionally it is the time we reach out to all our sponsors and supporters with a special thank you. Without the support of our FCM, Exchange and Service Provider members, we could not present our in-person membership meetings. These members provide speakers and expertise for panel discussions, financial assistance and even actual meeting space. If you want more information on becoming a NIBA Service Provider...

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Member Announcements
2 min read

Scott Stewart, NFA Board of Directors (GIB)

Scott Stewart, CEO, Stewart-Peterson Group, was recently elected to the NFA Board of Directors representing the Guaranteed Introducing Brokers category. Stewart-Peterson Group, is an GIB located in West Bend, WI and registered with the NFA since 1985. Scott is a long-time friend of the NIBA, having served as President of the Association for several years. We asked him to "introduce" himself to the NIBA Newsletter readership, and talk about some of the issues at NFA which he feels are important to the IB community..... "I am honored to be on the NFA board of directors. For those of you who are not familiar with me, I founded and have owned Stewart-Peterson (an agriculture-focused GIB) for over 30 years and have been in the futures industry for nearly 40 years. My work within the industry includes being a charter member of the NIBA, where I served as board member and President....

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Member Announcements
2 min read

Broker Rebate Program for FANG+ Index Futures on ICE

ICE Futures U.S. introduced NYSE FANG+ Index futures in Q4 2017. The underlying NYSE FANG+ Index was developed by the NYSE and includes 10 actively traded stocks that represent some of the top innovators across today’s tech-oriented companies. The current index composition includes the five core FANG stocks - Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Netflix and Google (Alphabet) - plus another five actively-traded technology growth stocks - Alibaba, Baidu, NVIDIA, Tesla and Twitter. The index is equally weighted and reconstituted on a quarterly basis, providing a performance benchmark that allows participants to take direct advantage of the capital efficiency of futures. The unique composition and construction of the NYSE FANG+ Index has resulted in its outperformance of other major indexes Over the past three years, the NYSE FANG+ Index has displayed a 35% annualized return as compared to 15% for the NASDAQ-100®, and 10% for the S&P 500®. NYSE FANG+ Index futures...

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Member Announcements
2 min read

Chairman's Letter - Feb 2018

February: second and shortest month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars In Old English, February was referred to both as “Solmounath” - a month of mud and Kale-mounath - a month of cabbage! Mud and cabbage or not, February is a good month to set your reminders for several upcoming notable events Remember -- attendance at NIBA in-person symposiums and webinars is free for members. So, mark the following dates now: April 19 - NIBA Forum, New York Athletic Club, NYC. Sessions include (i) marketing, (ii) short, critical answers to three of our most asked compliance questions and, (iii) a cryptocurrency panel. The program opens at 1:30pm. Registration is now open. August 8 - 5th Annual NIBA/DePaul Joint Symposium, DePaul University (downtown campus), Chicago. The planning committee is focusing in on topics and speakers for this meeting. To volunteer for the committee contact me, melinda@futuresrep.com or Mike,...

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