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I need another modifier key! January 24, 2007

Posted by James Webster in : apple, development , 4 comments

Between Spotlight’s hotkey (Apple + Space), the default Quicksilver hotkey (Ctrl + Space), and the extensive use I make of the “show current application’s menu items in Quicksilver” hack (which I bound to Option + Space), I have run out of modifier keys that will let me take advantage of IntelliJ’s wicked code completion. Not unless I sacrifice one of my Quicksilver/Spotlight keyboard shortcuts. Maybe its finally time for me to buy a USB foot pedal! That one is pretty expensive however ($120USD), looks like there are instructions to make a cheaper one on Instructables (via MAKE: Blog).

Unless of course a Quicksilver guru can tell me how to tell Quicksilver to ignore its hotkeys if a certain application has focus?

Australia’s capital markets in 2007 January 21, 2007

Posted by James Webster in : finance , add a comment

2007 will be an innovative year in Australia’s financial sector. The ASX is set to launch exchange-traded Contracts for Difference. Since CFDs were introduced to the Australian market a few years ago the growth in the volume of contracts traded has been astonishing, no doubt at least partly due to the current bull market. This growth has also resulted in a significant increase in trading volumes of the underlying shares listed on the ASX, as the CFD providers hedge their exposures. So while the ASX has no doubt done well out of increased fees from trading, they obviously want to get a piece of the action for themselves. It will be interesting to see how their offering compares to the current leading CFD providers and how these providers will adapt to the new competition. I wonder if it will introduce opportunities for arbitrage? It also looks like the ASX will be one of the first exchanges to have listed CFDs, the only other that I have been able to find is the London Stock Exchange.

Whilst the ASX looks to innovate through new products, a consortium of sell-side banks and brokers led by the New Zealand Stock Exchange will be establishing an Australian ECN (to be headed by Greg Yanco, a former ASX exec), an alternative trading venue for ASX-listed shares.

From a technology perspective this will mean an increasing focus on the FIX protocol and I expect algorithmic trading will also increase rapidly in Australia. I wonder if AMQP might also play a role in the network’s implementation?

Excel tips to impress your friends January 18, 2007

Posted by James Webster in : finance , 1 comment so far

If you happen to find yourself surrounded by Excel gurus and are having trouble keeping up, as anyone who is new to the financial industry may find, you might find Juice Analytics’ Excel Training Worksheet handy.

If you scoff at the idea of Excel being the number 1 tool in use by most of the business world, consider this… ‘databases are rocks, spreadsheets are water’.