The partnership comes as trading automation, expanding data volumes and increasing regulatory demands put financial data management under strain. In addition, management systems are moving from being over-night batch-based systems to providing real-time responsiveness.

In response to this, Xenomorph will apply Microsoft's HPC technology to the intraday calculation of large correlation matrices, a key calculation for correlation-based trading and risk management. Windows HPC Server 2008 will become the first HPC platform to be fully integrated within TimeScape.

This will deliver scalability in reference and market data management, allowing TimeScape to analyse high volume market data and accurately value derivative instrument portfolios.

"Faced with an overload of data, technology specialists and business users need greater scalability from data management systems", stated Chris Budgen, chief technical architect at Xenomorph. "Data and its analysis are key pressure points and are growing as data volumes challenge traditional data analysis and instrument pricing. We need to move away from inflexible, monolithic data management architectures to a more dynamic and

service-based approach."

Michael Newberry, High Performance Computing Product Manager, Microsoft UK added: "In today's business environment, people are looking for computing systems that are scalable and responsive to their business needs." Michael Newberry continued: "With partners like Xenomorph onboard, Microsoft Windows HPC Server 2008 is providing a responsive and cost-effective alternative to UNIX and mainframes. Windows HPC Server 2008 enables businesses to meet the computing challenges, and the data volumes, of the 21st century."