Top Investment Banking Resources

To stay on the cutting-edge of information and technology, investment bankers need to have the most relevant informational sources. Finance investment banks in particular is one industry in which being technological tools are constantly being updated. It is essential to keep up with these trends in order to stay ahead of the competition.

What resources and websites can investment banks use to stay up to date on all the latest financial news and insights? This article will review different resources to help investment banking firms create solid relationships within the financial industry.

Investment Banking Resources

The key to staying relevant as an investment bank is to use the proper resources. Let's dive into some of the most valuable and publicly available resources bankers depend on.

S&P Global Market Information

Standards and Poor's indices are widely used to understand financial markets through global and local lenses. They boast more than 150 years of data collection, 135 billion actionable data points per year, and cover 128 countries. Their resources cover corporate finance, financial institutions, infrastructures and basic utilities, governments (regulations and more), insurance, structured finance, and the U.S. Public Finance. (Yes, this is the S&P from the S&P 500, the most common index tracked.) Standard and Poor's breaks down their resource into three categories:

S&P Global Ratings‍

When you need credit ratings, thought leadership information, and general research behind any one of 28 countries, the S&P Global Ratings is your guide. Here you can find:

• Information on actions and criteria
• Regulations
• Research and analysis behind the ratings

S&P Dow Jones Indices‍

For the world's largest and highly recognized resource for global market information and index-based data, there's the S&P Dow Jones Indices. These indices, many of which you've probably heard of, include:

• S&P 500 -This is the value of the largest 500 companies' stocks.

• Dow Jones Industrial Average - This measures 30 large American companies on the Nasdaq and NYSE.

• S&P Global Market Intelligence - This is where the 135 billion actional data points per year comes into play. S&P Global Market Intelligence offers multi-asset class research and platforms to understand global data.

• Department of Commerce - The DOC offers important data sources for investment bank activities, including specific departments, or bureaus, that handle specialized information. The most commonly checked informational sources for the investment banking industry include:
  - BEA (Bureau of Economic Analysis)
  - ESA (Economics and Statistics Administration)
  - BIS (Bureau of Industry and Security)

• The Fed (Federal Reserve) - When you need to monitor governmental intervention in markets, it's best to go straight to the source. The Federal Reserve provides data on industrial production and countrywide interest rates that serve to help financial modeling, private equity firms, and other professionals working in financial services.

• SEC (U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission) - The SEC is home to EDGAR - the Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval system. Any company, whether foreign or domestic, must file periodic reports, registration and other financial information through EDGAR. This database is free and available to access by all, giving investment banks a valuable resource into the heart of companies of interest.

Though there are many resources available, let's switch gears a bit and talk about some news-worthy websites to keep bookmarked.

Investment Banking Websites

While the resources above are great for picking apart industries, global economies, and understanding the financial market, there's more to know when it comes to investment banking. More specifically, you have to know where to gather your news that relates to your industry. The most common investment banking websites IBs utilize are:

• Bloomberg
  Hailing as one of the chief resources for financial data, Bloomberg provides information on any security, debt, or equity sale that occurs. The platform itself, knowing its value, is priced out of reach of the average consumer which is why investment banks are quick to check it they're being assured of industry information. The website breaks down into four crucial segments, including:
  - Financial news
  - Market data
  - Interest rates from the Fed
  - Company data

• Reuters
  This news source doesn't just cover finance; it covers all types of events. However, when it comes to financial information, Reuters provides company-specific finance ratios calculated in-house. They also compare and contrast these ratios to the given industry.

Apart from these incredible resources, you may find yourself wanting to know more about the world of investment banking.

Understanding the Industry

xBooks have been written on everything from IB's history, culture, regulatory and structural developments, and how they've shaped global markets. You'll find an extensive library within the Goldman Sachs recommended book list.

The collection of books is split into:

• Background and history of banking
• Reference guide for the industry
• Fixed income and equities
• Understanding options and derivatives
• Managing investments
• Written about or by traders and money managers

Proper Information Gives IBs an Edge

What does properly sourced information provide? An edge. A gain on competition. The ability to make informed, confident decisions about high-profile clients. As a resource to the financial sector, Sourcescrub prides itself on its ability to provide real-time firmographic data when clients need it most.

Find all your data sourcing and M&A software tools by chatting with our experts today. Because when you need information on the private equity and investment banking industry, you need Sourcescrub.
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Sources

1. SEC. Filings & Forms.

2. AskIvy.net. Goldman Sachs recommended reading list.

3. S&P Global Rating. About Us.