The recent settlement between New York Attorney General Spitzer and ten banks addresses conflicts of interest charges in equity investing and requires that the firms involved supply clients with research sourced from at least three independent providers.

Thomson says its In Context Reports package qualifies under the terms of the settlement, and independent research and reports are available on over 7000 companies and ADRs. The product provides retail investors with a market outlook, analyst sentiment and forecasts and insight into buying and selling patterns.

The package also includes outsourcing and distribution services. Using the vendor's First Call distribution networks, brokers can outsource the maintenance, distribution and management of independent research. Brokers can also use the service to integrate research into their own client-facing environments or have the vendor distribute research to their clients on their behalf.

Analytical tools, content and monitoring services are also included and have been improved to help brokers and independent consultants guide research initiatives, as well as facilitate performance assessments programmess.

In support of this new initiative, Thomson Financial has appointment Bruce Fador as managing director for contributor relations.

Fador is tasked with spearheading the vendor's independent research activities and will report directly to Suresh Kavan.

He joins Thomson Financial from Gustin Partners, an international, retainer-based executive search firm, where he was a senior partner and headed the financial services practice. Prior to this he was president and CEO of WorldStreet, a software solutions provider serving the securities industry.

Previously Fador spent fifteen years at Thomson Financial where he worked worked on First Call, the vendor's online distribution network for financial research. He was president and CEO of the First Call unit from 1992-1998.