Six trends that will shape the financial information industry

Focuses on six key trends likely to shape the financial information industry in the short term. Consolidation of many smaller publishing companies in fewer, larger companies will be inevitable and be driven by the imperative to maximize profits. The drive to consolidate will be a key force in leading Internet publishing to success. Financial information is likely to develop along two lines: free, advertising sponsored financial information on the Internet; and quality, subscription based solutions that guarantee the accuracy of what they supply. Information vendors may begin adding more and better information integrated around some compelling application in order to retain users and attract advertisers. Despite the dominance of the Internet, there will still room for printed and data downloaded products. Libraries will continue to play an important role. Finally, all the work that has ensured success in avoiding the worst effects of the Year 2000 (Y2K) problem will have knock-on benefits through IT upgrades, more flexible systems, greater management acceptance and availability of more computer programmers too complete postponed projects.