TradFi embraces DeFi in landmark blockchain initiative An initiative between a group of financial institutions and the world’s most publicly used blockchain promises to accelerate the migration of real-world assets onto the distributed ledger. R3, a UK-based software group which has developed blockchains used by financial institutions including HSBC, Bank of America, Euroclear, and
Testing times for AI highlight commercial and ethical conflicts Reports that safety testing processes on AI models have been cut have led to concerns being expressed around ethics and governance and prompted calls for stricter regulation in this uniquely challenging area. Commercial considerations have increased pressure for faster rollout of new versions of
‘Tape bombs’ prompt market gyrations The first 100 days or so of Donald Trump’s administration have been characterized by market volatility. A major factor has been the publication of highly consequential, policy-related postings on social media platforms such as X and the President's own Truth Social channel. These so-called “tape bombs” (trader slang
Tariffs return: What history tells us The election of President Trump and his use of trade tariffs as a central economic policy tool has reignited debate over their broader economic implications. The White House contends that these "reciprocal" measures are fully justified on the basis of the trading practices of major trading partners
The debate over index concentration The meteoric rise of US mega-cap technology stocks over the past 15 years or so has led to an extraordinary level of index concentration. The combined weight of the five largest stocks in the MSCI World Index has surged from around 6% in 2015 to 20% today, while
CBDC momentum slows The development of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) has been a priority for central banks across the globe over the last few years. Recently, however, momentum has stalled. Apart from China’s digital yuan, CBDCs across major economies are yet to be launched, with some at more advanced stages of development
Toward a “new normal” for bonds? Global bonds markets appear to be in a state of structural volatility. While inflationary pressures and fiscal concerns are the most oft-cited factors, the apparent failure of the markets to adapt their expectations could be just as significant. In September 2024, the Fed embarked
“Trump 2” – beyond deregulation, who can say? The election of Donald Trump to a second term as US President has been cheered by financial markets and beneficiaries of Trump’s policy pronouncements. However, with plenty of uncertainty looming around policy implementation, the only things we can be reasonably certain of are deregulation and
Regulatory capture on the rise The notion that regulators hold absolute sway over the industries they cover is facing mounting challenges, as increasingly successful lobbying by big business to dilute regulations – ranging from bank capital requirements to climate change measures to artificial intelligence (AI) legislation – points to “regulatory capture”. A
Draghi sounds alarm on Europe’s productivity A host of factors have conspired to act as a brake on Europe’s economic growth this century. And the situation is not helped by inherent difficulties with financing the necessary measures to increase productivity. Since the beginning of the century, European policymakers have
