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Alternative data budget confidence hits 3-year high while AI returns remain efficiency-led – Neudata’s 2026 industry report

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LONDON, Sept. 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Confidence in alternative data budgets has reached its highest level in 3 years, with 97% of data buyers expecting their spend to increase or hold steady over the next 12 months, according to Neudata’s new industry report, The Future of Alternative and Market Data 2026. Now in its third year, the survey tracks how investment firms are budgeting for alternative and market data, adopting AI tools and navigating a fast-changing vendor landscape.

The report is based on 191 responses from data providers and buyers globally – Neudata’s largest sample to date, with responses from quant, multi-strategy, discretionary and macro funds, as well as AI research labs. 60% of buyer respondents manage over $1bn in assets.

Key findings from the report include:

Budget optimism reaches a 3-year high – 97% of data buyers expect their alternative data spend to increase or hold steady in the year ahead, up from 89% last year, the strongest confidence Neudata has recorded in 3years of the survey.AI returns are showing up in efficiency more than performance – 56% of buyers said their firm has measured a tangible return from AI deployment over the past 12 months. Efficiency gains were the most commonly cited form, at 41%, against 17% who credited AI with improving investment performance.MCP access is widely offered but pricing has yet to stabilise – 44% of data providers said they offer access via Model Context Protocol (MCP), and over half of those charge no additional fee.Views on AI’s effect on data quality are divided – 33% of buyers reported a deterioration in the quality of their data sources over the past 1-2 years, and opinion is split on whether AI-generated content is to blame.Signal strength remains the deciding factor – 39% of buyers said the main reason a trial does not lead to a purchase is that the dataset showed no discernible signal, ahead of price at 25%.

Rado Lipuš, CEO and founder of Neudata, commented: “3 years of running this survey show a market with continued confidence in the value of alternative and market data. What’s changing is AI’s role in reshaping that market. Efficiency gains are already well established. What comes next, and what we’re only seeing early signs of, is how AI affects data quality, pricing and whether it can improve investment performance.”

The 2026 edition of The Future of Alternative and Market Data provides essential intelligence for hedge funds, asset managers, data providers and financial institutions navigating spending decisions, AI adoption and vendor strategy over the year ahead.

Download the full report here > 

Suggested citation: Neudata’s The Future of Alternative and Market Data report (2026) n=191.

About Neudata

Neudata is an independent alternative and market data intelligence platform that helps institutional investors discover, evaluate and source datasets from third-party providers. For over 10 years, Neudata has provided unbiased research to hedge funds and asset managers, connecting them with data providers through its Scout and Ranger platforms, as well as its global events and 1-to-1 networking programme (AltDating). Neudata also supports corporates with consulting services to help assess, monetise and position their data effectively in the market. For more information, visit www.neudata.co

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SOURCE Neudata

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Xryma Plc Reports Steady H1 2026 Results While Positioning the Group for Its Next Phase of Growth

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NICOSIA, Cyprus, Sept. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Xryma Plc (“Group”, “Xryma”), a banktech group providing regulated cross-border open banking, international transactional banking and real-time EU and UK payment services, whilst also independently offering banking software and technology to third party banks and financial institutions, today announced its audited H1 2026 financial results for the six months ended 30 June 2026.

“The first half of 2026 remained firmly within the strategic investment period we outlined to shareholders. We made a conscious decision to prioritise the infrastructure and new opportunities required for Xryma’s next phase of growth, accepting the near-term impact this would have on Client Revenue and profitability,” said Ajay Treon, Group Chief Financial Officer & Executive Director, Xryma Plc.

“Importantly, that investment is now translating into delivery. We completed our Eurosystem T2 integration in June, continued to progress TIPS, PaidBy® and XrymaCoin, while Technology Services (as defined in the Prospectus) continued its strong growth, with revenue increasing 77%. Our SaaS and Banking Platform activities provide stable recurring income alongside higher-value consulting, bespoke development and customisation revenues.

We have achieved this while remaining profitable and maintaining a strong financial position, ending H1 2026 with €59.4 million of net assets and €50.9 million of cash. As the principal build phase of our strategic investment programme approaches completion, our focus is now shifting to activation, commercialisation and growth. We expect to see the first signs of that commercial momentum in Q4 2026, with the benefits of the investments we have made beginning to materialise from 2027 through revenue growth and operating leverage.”

H1 2026 Highlights

Strategic investment programme nearing completion, with the Group’s focus progressively shifting from investment and build to activation, commercialisation and growth.Client Revenue of €16.9 million, compared with €27.7 million in H1 2025, reflecting the anticipated near-term impact of prioritising strategic investment, and deferring certain complementary enhancements to existing products and services.Technology Services revenue increased 77% to €1.65 million, compared with €0.93 million in H1 2025, supported by recurring SaaS and Banking Platform income alongside higher-value consulting, bespoke development and customisation.The Group remained profitable throughout the investment period, reporting profit after tax of €0.03 million, compared with €12.3 million in H1 2025.Strong financial position maintained, with net assets of €59.4 million and cash and cash equivalents of €50.9 million at 30 June 2026, while continuing to meet applicable regulatory capital requirements.Major strategic milestones delivered, including completion of direct Eurosystem T2 integration in June 2026 following successful notification of participation in October 2025, together with continued progress across TIPS, PaidBy® Mastercard and XrymaCoin.Active capital allocation continued, including the early termination and repayment of the restructured NSX loan facilities and increased investment in BeEmotion AI, alongside progress towards completing the KYC initiative with BeEmotion.Commercial momentum expected to be regained in Q4 2026, with the benefits of the strategic investment programme expected to begin materialising from 2027 through revenue growth and operating leverage.

Nikogiannis Karantzis, Group Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Xryma Plc said: “Our commitment to delivering outstanding products and services to our existing customers remains unwavering. We are dedicated to expanding our customer base and increasing revenues in H2 2026, following the deep infrastructure upgrades of 2025 and H1 2026. Whilst this upgrade programme has impacted our short-term performance, we are of the belief that Xryma will be better positioned to grow revenues in the mid to long-term, with better margins due to our unique positioning in the market.

We are also pleased to have announced that the company’s Prospectus was approved by its competent authority, the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) on the 14th of July 2026. We will continue to advance our stock exchange listing plans, thus providing liquidity to our existing shareholders, broadening access to capital markets and supporting the Group’s long-term growth ambitions.”

View Xryma Plc H1 2026 – Interim Six Month Results

About Xryma Plc

Xryma Plc is a regulated European bank-tech group that develops banking technology via its Probanx® subsidiary and operates digital payment services underpinned by direct central-bank settlement. Xryma is one of the first non-bank participants authorised to connect directly to the Eurosystem’s T2 RTGS and TIPS platforms. The company holds Electronic Money Institution (EMI) authorisations in both the EU and the UK and offers multi-currency corporate accounts. Its open-banking service, PaidBy®, delivers one of the world’s first cross-border, account-to-account, dynamic-currency-converting service for merchants, with instant local payments and next-business-day settlement in major and exotic currencies. Xryma is also the issuer of the upcoming electronic-money token XrymaCoin (XREUR).

Media Contact: Media@xryma.com 

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SOURCE Xryma Plc

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Scailarc, Elisa and Nokia demonstrate world-fist call handled without answering, powered by IMS Data Channel

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HELSINKI, Sept. 18, 2026 Proof of concept shows how customers can complete an important service task  even when they cannot answer a call            

Scailarc, Nokia and Elisa have completed a proof-of-concept demo of a new mobile calling experience that enables interactive, visual communication before and during a call. The showcase demonstrated a first-of-its-kind scenario where a customer can complete a call-related action without answering the call, using IMS Data Channel technology and trusted caller verification enabled through Nokia’s Network as Code platform. The call was made with the new Jolla Phone. 

The  demo uses an Elisa customer service scenario: Elisa calls about a fibre  installation. The customer cannot speak but sees a trusted interactive call  screen and selects “Book installation time”. Elisa sees the customer  move to self-service, and the customer completes the task immediately – without  having to answer the call. 

A new phase in the mobile call lifecycle

Created by Scailarc with support from Nokia and Elisa, the solution brings rich, interactive content into the native phone experience without requiring a separate app. It extends the phone call from a voice connection into a trusted media channel before, during and after the call.

For  companies, this can enhance efficiency by improving reachability and service  completion by displaying customers a clear reason for the call, verified context  and simple interactive options. For customers, it offers a convenient way to  handle service tasks when speaking is not possible or appropriate.  

Technology foundation

The solution is based on IMS Data Channel, a 3GPP standard that enables rich data interactions inside a normal phone call. Nokia’s Network as Code capabilities support caller identification, helping create a trusted interaction between caller and customer. The standards-based solution works independently of device model or mobile OS ecosystem.

Security and trust are central to the concept. IMS Data Channel interfaces run inside an isolated environment in the phone’s native calling app, preventing access to phone data. Data is encrypted, and Scailarc verifies application content and digital fingerprints to help prevent hijacking.

“This proof of concept shows how the traditional phone call can become a trusted, interactive customer service channel. Visual context, verified caller information, and simple self-service actions can help customers complete tasks faster and with confidence,” says Marko Rapeli, Co-founder & CEO, Scailarc.

“Elisa is exploring innovations that make digital services easier and safer. Today’s Proof of Concept demonstrates the potential this service has for the reduction of daily life friction. We are looking forward to further developing this technology for the benefit of our corporate and consumer customers,” says Laura Pitkänen, Vice President, Subscriptions and Services, Corporate Customers, Elisa.

“Programmable network capabilities can help developers and service providers create new real-time experiences. This showcase demonstrates how network capabilities can support trusted, contextual communications directly in the call experience,” Shkumbin Hamiti, Vice President, Network Monetization Platform, Nokia.

The companies see potential for trusted, interactive calling in sectors where identification, timely action and customer confidence are critical, including healthcare, banking, public services, logistics, public safety and legally required customer contacts.

CONTACT:

Further information and interview requests:

Elisa’s Mediadesk, mediadesk@elisa.fi, tel. +358 50 305 1605

Scailarc

Marko Rapeli, Co-founder & CEO, marko.rapeli@scailarc.com, +358 50 323 3973 
OlliPekka Nokkonen, Co-founder & COO, ollipekka.nokkonen@scailarc.com, +358 50 444 0894

Nokia

Press Office, press.services@nokia.com  

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/elisa-oyj/r/scailarc–elisa-and-nokia-demonstrate-world-fist-call-handled-without-answering–powered-by-ims-data,c4397644

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Twenty Years of the Qinghai-Xizang Railway: A Path Toward Harmony Between People and Nature

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LHASA, China, Sept. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — 2026 marks the 20th anniversary of the opening of the Qinghai-Xizang Railway. Spanning nearly 2,000 kilometers and reaching altitudes of over 5,000 meters, this railway traverses the “roof of the world.” By overcoming formidable challenges like oxygen deficiency and harsh climate, it remains one of the most remarkable feats in the history of engineering.

To build the Qinghai-Xizang Railway, the engineers had to face a series of challenges rarely seen in the history of railway construction worldwide. About a quarter of the railway passes through permafrost regions. In some areas, ice accounts for more than 80 percent of the permafrost, while soil accounts for less than 20 percent. Permafrost is unstable as season changes. It can thaw and sink when temperatures rise in summer, while in winter it will freeze and shrink. So it is easy to crack during construction. Under the combined challenges of high altitude, low temperatures and oxygen deficiency, it was a global engineering challenge for Chinese engineers to ensure the long-term stability of the railway bed.

Faced with such extreme conditions, Chinese engineers and technicians adopted a range of innovative technologies. Along both sides of the railway, tens of thousands of heat-conducting pipes extend deep into the permafrost, draining underground heat to the surface and helping keep the permafrost frozen and stable. The 111-kilometer-long railroad bed with crushed rock ventilation can promote air circulation, carry away heat and reduce subgrade temperatures.

The construction of the Qinghai-Xizang Railway focused not only on engineering safety, but also on ecological conservation throughout the project. A total of 33 wildlife passageways were built along the railway, preserving migration routes for animals on the plateau. The Wudaoliang Bridge alone allows more than 5,000 Tibetan antelopes to pass through each year. Since the railway opened, students in remote mountainous areas have the better access to sound education. Herders can reach markets more easily. Over the past 20 years, the Qinghai-Xizang Railway has transported more than 100 million tons of freight.

The animated video China’s New Pulse: How did China build a railway spanning the roof of the world? produced by China Matters, tells the story behind the Qinghai-Xizang Railway. Today, this railway serves as a crucial transport infrastructure for local people with a balanced development between economic growth and ecological conservation.

YouTube Link:https://www.youtube.com/shorts/V83lZVWsp8A

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SOURCE China Matters

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