The growing use of tablets by investment professionals has been underscored with the launch of an iPad application by Bank of America Merrill Lynch’s (BofAML) research division.
The Research Library iPad app allows institutional clients of BofAML to access research and analytics from the bank’s 800 research professionals. Access is available to users of BofAML’s Global Markets Portal service.
On the app’s homepage, users will find smaller applications known as widgets that offer access to a macroeconomic overview, a list of featured research reports and the bank’s research archive. From the homepage, users can swipe to the right to access the latest video commentaries released by BofAML’s analysts.
‘It allows you to search, browse and download investment recommendations, insights and other proprietary research analytics from anywhere and at any time,’ says Candace Browning, head of BofA Merrill Lynch Global Research, in a demo on the bank’s website.
‘That includes real-time access to equity recommendations on more than 3,200 companies, totaling $35 tn in market cap. We will continue to make enhancements to the app, and we really look forward to your feedback.’
While the number of investment professionals using iPads and other tablets is unclear, these gadgets are now often brought by shareholders to investor meetings.
The benefit of applications for investment research purposes – as well as for internal use by investor relations departments – was highlighted in October when Nestlé launched an iPhone and iPad app specifically for IR.
Speaking in an interview with IR magazine in November, Nestlé’s head of IR Roddy Child-Villiers said apps were useful to investors because they allowed them to access and review company documents without having to carry around files of paper.
Child-Villiers says he also finds the iPad a useful tool internally and has kitted out the whole of Nestlé’s IR team with the Apple tablets.
A spokesperson for BofAML says that, because of the app’s recent release, ‘we are unable to provide any information on how people are using it at this stage.
‘Our goal is to ensure we are providing premier service to our clients and delivering our research in new and innovative ways that meet the way they work today.’
