XBRL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XBRLJust inquiring on the thoughts from this knowledgeable group about this transformational standard and the effects on Quanting.Since all the information in documents is extracting to databases (straight from the issuer), quants will have more information for their models rather than the standard pricing, EPS, etc... All that investigation Fundamental Analysts do through documents to reveal nuggets of information to gain an 'edge' will dissipate since the quants will have the data as well = more market opportunity for quantitative professionals (beyond derivatives).This standard is developing throughout all countries and across all assets classes (equities (transactions, financial notes, etc...), mutual funds risk/return statements, asset backed securities, etc..).Thoughts?

Dunno why it would make such a big difference, sure this saves having to get a first year analyst to read through the horrid OCs and enter the information in a database which is great means they can move on to something more worthy of there time. But this won't really help for some of the more complex stuff where you have to read through and understand the structures and tranching anyway, be it in a database or a crude pdf that's been locked for editing so you can copy paste anything from it (seriously do the legal people not know that anyone can crack these locks in 10 seconds flat?). For simple deals you really only need is in the pricing supplement and listen to the investor presentation (or get a pdf copy) from the sales people.I don't see how this should change anything for quants since this is info that you would get anyway it just means that there is less brute work to go to low level analyst.If they would start embedding more information in this then it might be helpful but issuers like to give out as little info as possible or deemed acceptable by potential investors so they don't show their whole hand and can maybe get away with throwing a bit more risk in the deal while keeping the spread at an acceptable level.