Q2B26 Copenhagen | Morten Byrdal, Head of Trading Cross Assets, Jyske Bank

Q2B26 Copenhagen | Morten Byrdal, Head of Trading Cross Assets, Jyske Bank

🎙 Morten Byrdal 👥 6K 📅 October 12, 2026 ⏱ 21 min 👁 19 📄 expert opinion 🧭 2026-10-15
Available in: English (current) Français

Keywords

quantumtradingJyske Bankoptimizationrisk management

Summary

In this talk, Morten Byrdal, Head of Trading Cross Assets at Jyske Bank, describes a collaborative project with Q*Perior (likely based on quantum-inspired techniques) to optimize real-time trading decisions. The presentation covers the motivation (global competition, cost constraints), the initial challenges (understanding the problem, data quality), the evolution of a proof-of-concept for equity desks, and the achieved results (prediction accuracy below 1 basis point for some asset classes, cost reduction ~30%, earnings increase ~15-20%). Byrdal emphasizes the importance of partnering with academic researchers, giving the project time to develop, and scaling incrementally from 10 to 300+ equity codes. He also highlights cultural shifts, such as traders needing to accept data-driven signals and the potential for future expansion to FX. The talk concludes with recommendations: don’t build in-house, engage with elite quantum math teams, and start early to gain knowledge before quantum hardware matures. The case study is presented as an example of successful innovation in a traditional financial institution.

159 words

Critical Evaluation

Value of the Information & Strength of the Argument

The talk offers a compelling business narrative and practical insights into implementing advanced algorithmic solutions in a bank. The argumentation is rooted in real-world experience, and the speaker provides specific metrics (basis point improvements, cost and earnings percentages) that lend credibility. However, the evidence is entirely based on the speaker’s own claims, with no external validation, and the technical underpinnings are not explained in sufficient detail to allow independent assessment. The speaker also acknowledges that he does not fully understand the mathematics, which underscores the reliance on external expertise. The strategic advice—start small, partner with researchers, focus on problem definition—is sensible and likely transferable to other financial institutions.

Scientific Rigor, Source Quality, Title Accuracy

The talk provides no explicit sources beyond a reference to the Q2B conference and the company website. The speaker does not cite academic papers or technical documentation, and the absence of open data or methodology prevents rigorous scientific evaluation. The title is accurate and informative, matching the actual content of the presentation. As a conference talk, it serves as a testimonial rather than a rigorous study, which limits its scholarly value.

194 words

Title / Content Match

The title accurately reflects the content: a presentation by the Head of Trading at Jyske Bank about quantum-optimized real-time trading at the Q2B26 conference. Good match.

Quality & Reliability

6/10

The talk presents a concrete industrial case study with claimed quantitative improvements (cost reduction ~30%, earnings increase ~15-20%, prediction accuracy below 1 basis point), but lacks methodological details, independent verification, or peer review. The author is an experienced trading executive, and the claims are plausible yet anecdotal.

Key Moments

Cited Sources

  • Q2B Conference Website — Official event page for the Q2B conference where this talk was presented, providing context for the session.

Contribution & Novelties

This talk provides a rare openly shared case study of a traditional bank implementing quantum-inspired or quantum-adjacent technology for trade pricing and warehousing. The main novelty is the reported quantitative outcomes and the practical implementation path, which may serve as a blueprint for other financial institutions. It also highlights the importance of cross-disciplinary collaboration and the evolving role of traders.

Pour aller plus loin :

  • Quantum Computing in Finance — Overview of quantum computing’s potential applications in finance, including pricing and optimization.
  • Quantum Annealing — A technique often used for optimization problems, relevant to the technology possibly behind the Q*Perior solution.
  • Risk-based pricing — Concept of pricing based on risk, which underlies the trading decisions discussed.
  • Banking technology innovation — Broader context of financial technology adoption in banks.

128 words

Radar Profile

The profile shows moderate scores across all dimensions, indicating a balanced but not highly rigorous presentation. The quantity of information is relatively high, but quality and fiabilité are limited by anecdotal evidence. The technical level is moderate, suitable for a general business audience rather than experts. Overall, the talk is informative for practitioners but lacks depth for academic evaluation.

Reliability 5/10