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

Open banking – A global perspective It is more than a decade since open banking arrived on the scene to a reluctant banking sector. That is just one reason why it has yet to reach its potential but it is in less developed markets where its impact promises to be revolutionary. Open banking

CBDCs – Moving forward (slowly)Central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) have been characterized as a solution in search of a problem, but central banks seem resolute in their ultimate adoption, in spite of implied threats to commercial banks and financial stability. According to the Atlantic Council there are now 105 countries whose central banks’ are actively

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

Rates turmoil strikes financial system The spike in interest rates over the past couple of years has transformed the banking landscape and placed immense pressure on individual institutions, leading to dramatic rescues in the US and Switzerland, and raising the dual spectres of systemic failure and a credit crunch. Since late 2021, the