Nordnet Expands Stock Access; Experts Warn on Cybersecurity Gaps

Nordnet has expanded its digital trading platform to include nine new European markets, significantly increasing Swedish investors' access to European equities. The expansion encompasses exchanges in Belgium, France, Ireland, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Spain, Portugal, and the Netherlands, adding over a thousand companies to the platform. Ara Mustafa, Investment Coach at Nordnet, highlights the enhanced investment opportunities, noting that the expansion facilitates access to a wider array of companies, including previously inaccessible small-cap firms and both growth and dividend stocks, some with yields of six to seven percent. This expansion also provides investors with increased options in stable, family-owned businesses. In a separate development, Thomas Öberg, Principal Architect Cybersecurity at itm8, emphasizes the cybersecurity vulnerabilities prevalent among mid-sized Swedish companies due to the absence of a dedicated Chief Information Security Officer (CISO). This lack of defined responsibility often places the burden on executives such as the CIO, CFO, or CEO, who may lack specialized cybersecurity expertise. Öberg warns that this poses a significant risk, particularly in light of increasing regulatory pressures stemming from frameworks like NIS2, as well as growing demands from insurance providers and investors. He cautions against complacency, stating that all revenue-generating companies are potential targets. Öberg advises businesses to prioritize fundamental security measures, beginning with a comprehensive risk analysis to identify and protect critical assets.