Since New York state attorney general Eliot Spitzer went public last year with his investigations into the bias and conflicts of interest in research, the equity research landscape has been changing. A number of analysts at investment banks have set up or joined independent research companies causing a huge influx of new firms on the research scene.
New products and services are appearing as an alternative or complement to sell-side brokerage research with the aim of eradicating any tainted opinion. Consequently, the pressure is now on new research firms and investment banks to convince investors with their new research strategies.
Greater demand
This trend has prompted Instinet, the global agency broker, to update its independent research division and in January it launched a new Independent Research Consultancy (IRC).
"We have had an independent research division in Europe for six years but various changes in the market and recent evidence of conflicts of interest in research, have forced us to alter the role of our division," says Daniela Meyers, head of independent research, Instinet Europe.
The new service acts as an introductory platform between investors and independent research companies to help clients find the right research providers.