Abstract

The financial technology environment is a dynamic, high-pressured, fast-paced world in which developing fast and efficient buy-and-sell order processing systems and order executing (clearing and settling) systems is of primary importance. The orders involved come from an ever-changing network of people (traders, brokers, market makers) and technology.  To prepare people to succeed in this environment, seasoned financial technology veteran Roy Freedman presents both the technology and the finance side in this comprehensive overview of this dynamic area. He covers the broad range of topics involved in this industry--including auction theory, databases, networked computer clusters, back-office operations, derivative securities, regulation, compliance, bootstrap statistics, optimization, and risk management—in order to present an in-depth treatment of the current state-of-the-art in financial technology.

Each chapter concludes with a list of exercises; a list of references; a list of websites for further information; and case studies.

• With amazing clarity, Freedman explains both the technology side and the finance side of financial technology
• Accessible to both finance professionals needing to upgrade their technology knowledge and technology specialists needing to upgrade their finance knowledge

Approaching a new highly abstract and complex technical subject, especially as a student, has much in common with the mountaineer's approach to a
mountain: both present a daunting challenge to be overcome at high cost of effort--we fear for our very survival.
In "Introduction to Financial Technology", Roy Freedman proves himself a steadfast and expert guide right from the beginning of the journey.
Like a trusty Sherpa, he does all the heavy lifting for us even in the ever-thinning air of our journey up the steep Himalayan slopes of the financial and technological abstractions of the modern discipline that is financial technology. All in all, I found Freedman's treatment of the financial application of computer algorithms and financial technology quite thorough and highly informative and well written.
-- Raymond Nolting, Executive Project Manager/Senior Business Analyst, B-Trade Services L.L.C./Division of the Bank of New York
"One would not expect a book on financial technology to be so...well...gripping. Freedman provides an interesting survey of the history of financial technology as well as the technological tools used today. This book is a must read for any true student of the market, especially as high technology becomes ever more pervasive in the analysis and operation of financial markets."
-- Ben Van Vliet, Associate Director, M.S. Financial Markets, Center for Financial Markets, Illinois Institute of Technology