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Zawya
5 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
LSEG Global Cloud Survey: Financial services firms embrace cloud to drive competitiveness
82% use hybrid/multi-cloud 91% are advancing AI via cloud Financial services firms around the world are accelerating their adoption of cloud technologies to enhance agility, resilience, and innovation, not merely to reduce costs, according to new research conducted by LSEG (London Stock Exchange Group). The global survey of 453 financial services executives reveals that 87% of firms have increased their investment in cloud over the past two years, with a growing emphasis on strategic outcomes such as scalability, revenue growth, and AI enablement. The research shows that 82% of firms now operate with either a multi-cloud or hybrid-cloud strategy, reflecting a shift toward flexibility and risk diversification. However, this evolution is not without its challenges. 84% of respondents have had to adjust their cloud strategies in response to regulatory frameworks such as the EU's Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) and General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Stuart Brown, Group Head of Data & Feeds, LSEG: 'The results of our survey show that adopting cloud is no longer a technology or engineering led decision; it is a key business imperative. Companies are increasingly driving meaningful value from cloud, improving operational resilience, and preparing for the next wave of innovation. Over the next three years, that innovation will be driven by AI and machine learning, with financial institutions increasingly using cloud to power fraud detection, risk management, data analytics and generative AI.' Security remains a top concern. Nearly half of respondents (47%) cite the sophistication of cyberattacks as their primary worry, followed closely by concerns around data privacy and breaches. Despite this, 92% say operational resilience is a critical or very important factor when selecting a cloud provider underscoring the importance of trust and reliability in cloud partnerships. Firms are seeing tangible benefits from cloud adoption. 54% of respondents report that they have migrated and are already seeing value, particularly in areas like risk management, customer engagement, and enterprise data access. For instance, 83% of firms using cloud for risk management have already completed migration, the highest among all use cases. Interestingly, ROI is increasingly measured by strategic outcomes: 51% assess cloud success by scalability, 47% by revenue growth, and 47% by improved security and resilience. Only 34% prioritize immediate cost savings signaling a shift in how cloud value is perceived. That said, 61% of firms still report reduced IT infrastructure costs, especially in regions like EMEA and APAC, where multi-cloud strategies are more prevalent due to regulatory complexity. The survey found that 91% of firms are either already using or planning to use cloud services for AI initiatives within the next 12 months. Generative AI (60%), fraud detection (50%), and risk management (50%) are the top use cases. Moreover, 84% of respondents say their organizations are somewhat or very advanced in AI adoption, with investment firms leading the way. As firms look to the future, many are also reconsidering their cloud service models. While SaaS remains dominant today (43%), there is growing interest in Platform as a Service (PaaS) and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), a sign that firms may be preparing to build more bespoke applications in-house. Click (here) to view the full report. About LSEG LSEG is a leading global financial markets infrastructure and data provider, playing a vital social and economic role in the world's financial system. With our open approach, trusted expertise and global scale, we enable the sustainable growth and stability of our customers and their communities. We are dedicated partners with extensive experience, deep knowledge and a worldwide presence in data and analytics; indices; capital formation; and trade execution, clearing and risk management across multiple asset classes. LSEG is headquartered in the United Kingdom, with significant operations in 65 countries across EMEA, North America, Latin America and Asia Pacific. We employ over 26,000 people globally, more than half located in Asia Pacific. LSEG's ticker symbol is LSEG. Contact Tarek Fleihan Global Communications, LSEG newsroom@
Arabian Post
10-07-2025
- Business
- Arabian Post
MENA Investment Banking Fees Slip Amid Equity Underwriting Lull
MENA region investment banking fees declined 2 per cent year‑on‑year in the first half of 2025, falling to US$773.7 million, the third‑highest H1 tally since 2000, according to London Stock Exchange Group's Deals Intelligence data. The dip occurred amid an environment of oil‑price volatility, geopolitical fragmentation and escalating global trade tensions. Debt capital markets underwriting emerged as the growth engine, with related fees rising 20 per cent to US$278.9 million. However, the dampened performance in equity capital markets overshadowed gains in debt. Equity underwriting fees plunged 18 per cent to US$169.9 million—a two‑year low—and advisory revenue tied to completed M&A transactions rose 52 per cent to US$191 million, the strongest first half since 2022. Saudi Arabia accounted for the largest share of regional fees at 41 per cent, followed by the UAE and Qatar, with HSBC earning the most among banks at US$64 million, representing 8 per cent of the fee pool. ADVERTISEMENT Equity issuance across MENA suffered sharply, with total equity and related issuance falling 57 per cent to US$7.6 billion in H1 2025, while IPO activity showed resilience—with 25 new listings raising US$4.5 billion, a 25 per cent increase compared to the corresponding period last year. This marks the highest number of IPOs since 2008. Despite equity sector woes, debt markets posted record numbers: bond issuance climbed 17 per cent to US$86.8 billion, the highest first‑half total since 1980, with Saudi Arabia leading issuance at 52 per cent, followed by the UAE at 25 per cent and Qatar at 8 per cent. Islamic bond issuance reached an all‑time H1 record with US$32.2 billion raised. M&A activity surged, with advisory fees benefiting from deal flow. The region recorded US$115.5 billion worth of M&A transactions in H1, a 149 per cent year‑on‑year rise, the highest H1 total since LSEG began tracking in 1980. Deal volumes also climbed 16 per cent. The largest transaction was Borealis AG's US$30.85 billion acquisition of Borouge PLC in the UAE, pending completion. Material and energy‑power sectors drove M&A values, with the former accounting for 67 per cent of total deal value, led by ADNOC‑OMV's Borouge and Borealis merger. Financial and consumer sectors followed, together contributing over US$6 billion in deals. Underwriting league tables reflect shifting dynamics. HSBC claimed top spot in equity capital markets with a 15 per cent share, followed by EFG Hermes at 11 per cent. In bond markets, HSBC again led, handling US$8.9 billion in proceeds. In M&A advisory, Rothschild led with US$76.1 billion worth of deals. Analysts attribute the divergence between equity and debt performance to multiple challenges. Elevated market uncertainty, stemming from fluctuating oil prices and geopolitical tensions, depressed investor appetite for equity issuances. Corporates and governments, however, seized on favourable debt market conditions—driven by stable rates and supportive regulatory frameworks—to expand borrowing. Regional reform agendas continued to underpin deal activity. Saudi reforms under Vision 2030 and UAE liberalisations stimulated M&A and bond issuance momentum. Meanwhile, the equity issuance recovery was manifest in public offerings like flynas's US$1.1 billion IPO on Tadawul, the region's largest so far this year.
Irish Independent
04-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Arthur Cox and A&L Goodbody lead way for M&A activity
During the first half of this year, they have been advisers on M&A deals valued at a total of just under €10bn, according to figures provided by the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG). A&L Goodbody advised on 25 deals in the first half of the year, valued at just under €4.3bn, while Arthur Cox advised on 23, valued at just over €5.5bn. Law firm Matheson advised on the next highest number of deals, at 18. Kirkland & Ellis advised on the number of deals with the highest aggregate value, at almost €6.6bn. Top M&A deals that had any Irish involvement during the first half of 2025 – most of which have not yet been completed – include the near €1.4bn takeover by Irish food group Greencore of UK peer Bakkavor. The sale by DCC of its healthcare division for just over £1bn (€1.16bn) is also included in the deals surveyed by LSEG. DCC is selling the unit to HealthCo Investment, an investment subsidiary of funds managed or advised by Investindustrial Advisors. Ongoing activity reflected in the data includes the potential sale of Ireland's biggest hotel group, Dalata, which put itself on the block earlier this year. Also included is the sale during May of Irish legal software firm Brightflag, whose AI-powered platform streamlines processes. It was bought for €425m in cash by Dutch company Wolters Kluwer. The pending deal by AIB to sell its near 50pc stake in AIB Merchant Services to joint venture partner Fiserv is also included in the figures. Earlier this year, China's WuXi Biologics said it would sell its vaccine facility in Dundalk to US pharma giant Merck & Co for about €500m. The closure of that deal remains pending. The LSEG report also shows the top financial advisers in M&A activity linked to Ireland in the first half of the year include Daiwa Securities, Clearwater and Benchmark International. Across the world, about $2.14tn in M&A deals were inked during the first half of 2025. That was 26pc higher than in the first six months of 2024. But a chunk of that increase was due to activity in Asia, where total deal values doubled to $584m in the period.
Business Recorder
16-06-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Kenyan shilling flat versus dollar, LSEG data shows
NAIROBI: The Kenyan shilling held steady against the dollar on Monday, data from London Stock Exchange Group showed. At 0740 GMT, commercial banks quoted the shilling at 129.00/129.50, unchanged from its close on Friday.
Business Recorder
13-06-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Kenya's shilling barely changed versus dollar, LSEG data shows
NAIROBI: Kenya's shilling was little changed against the dollar on Friday, data from the London Stock Exchange Group showed. Kenyan shilling little changed versus dollar, LSEG data shows At 0649 GMT the shilling traded at 128.90/129.40 per dollar, compared with Thursday's closing rate of 128.95/129.45.
