Computational approaches and data analytics in financial services

Over the past decades, the field of finance has evolved rapidly, driven by advances in information technology and the introduction of financial innovations involving new financial products and services. Nowadays, the sector of financial services faces many opportunities as well as major challenges. On the one hand, there is a plethora of investment and financing options for investors and corporations. On the other hand, the complexity of financial products and services has increased considerably, and financial markets are exposed to global systemic risks arising from economic and geopolitical factors. Moreover, in the era of big data, enormous amounts of information are available for designing and providing customised financial solutions as well as for understanding the deep uncertainties involved in financial decision-making. In this context, analytical approaches have become indispensable tools for descriptive, prescriptive, and predictive financial modelling. Such approaches cover a wide range of areas in operational research and other related fields.