Crude oil explained: What it is and its characteristics Despite the growth in sustainability concerns and the emergence of renewable energy and other green initiatives, crude oil remains central to the functioning of modern economies. It continues to hold the largest share of the world's energy mix and powers most forms of transport through
Gold: Demand, supply, and price explored A precious metal is a rare metallic chemical element of high, durable economic value. Precious metals are very malleable, highly resistant to corrosion, excellent reflectors of light, and very conductive to heat and electricity. Precious metals were historically important as currency but are now primarily regarded as investment and
Stage five of the trade lifecycle: Ongoing position and risk management The successful settlement of a trade is not the end of the story. There are numerous trade-related events and market changes that can impact a trade while it is live and result in changes to the trade position or underlying asset. Because of
Stage III and IV of the trade lifecycle: Clearing & settlement After a trade is executed, there are a number of activities that must take place before the trade can be considered complete. The purpose of these activities is to clear and settle the trade, and they must take place regardless of whether the
Stage two of the trade lifecycle: Execution For centuries, trade execution markets were very distinct and relatively straightforward. Most trading took place at specific geographic locations where traders would stand in "pits" shouting out prices and waving trade tickets in the air in a seemingly chaotic fashion. Advances in technology mean that this type
Stage one of the trade lifecycle Pre-trade Before any client trading can be done, a number of different activities must take place in the pre-trade environment. A critical element is the client onboarding process, as this allows institutions to establish whether they should trade with a potential client. Client onboarding often involves specialist teams
Alternative assets 101: The basics Alternative assets, or alternative investments, are those that are not considered to be mainstream assets like equities, bonds, or cash. Classic examples of alternative assets include commodities and hedge funds. However, the alternative asset universe is fluid with new instruments constantly being developed. Alternative assets typically have a low
Learn better with these scientifically proven techniques If you are looking to enhance your learning and development, incorporating evidence-based techniques can be a great help. Here are some research-backed tips to help you improve your retention of information and enhance your overall learning experience: 1 Practice retrieval Retrieval practice - actively recalling information from
Developing a successful hybrid working L&D model Benefits, challenges, and strategies With many companies now adopting hybrid working models, the need for effective learning and integration has never been greater. As remote and in-office employees work together in new ways, it is important to provide them with the tools and resources they need to
Green bonds explained and the different types of green asset Until recently, many financial market participants may have found climate-related financial risks to be largely abstract. However, it has become increasingly difficult for reasonable observers to deny that there is at least an element of climate change causality behind events such as the catastrophic
