Regulator Concern at Online Investor Vulnerability Both the European Commission and the SEC have expressed concern over the rise of “gamification” of retail investing and indications are that enhanced investor protection regulation is inevitable. It was just over a year ago that the global stock markets witnessed one of the most unusual phenomena
CBDC: Central Banks Mobilize to Retain Control Over Monetary Sovereignty The Covid crisis was just one of a number of factors that challenged traditional notions and habits around money. New technology has already transformed people’s relationship with legal tender but more profound questions over “ownership” of money and payments systems are emerging. Against
Why financial education is key to capital markets development One year after the “memestock” phenomenon, efforts in Europe to build a retail investment culture are taking place just as a wave of new digital investment platforms appears. But, as the Securities and Exchange Commission expresses concern at online gamification of investment, is the industry
Greenflation: Why the Energy Transition is Sending Commodity Prices Soaring As the world embraces commodity-hungry green technologies, demand for metals and minerals is soaring. Yet the push to protect the environment is also constraining investment in new mining and extraction projects. The result is rapidly rising prices for energy, minerals, and metals. This
Banks Seek to Implement Sustainable Finance Strategies Under pressure from clients and regulators, banks are trying to adopt new strategies designed to channel funding into sustainable economic activities. But the process has been challenging and uneven. A lack of clarity on key definitions and a shortage of necessary data have made it difficult for
European Funds Warn of Greenwashing Epidemic Amid Confusion Over Sustainability Disclosure Rules As European asset managers scramble to implement the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR), they are warning of a significant risk of greenwashing. With little clarity on what makes a fund “sustainable,” it is possible that asset managers may mislabel
Bitcoin ETFs Launch as Traditional Firms Set to Dominate With the launch of the first US-based Bitcoin futures exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in October, crypto assets took another important step toward mainstream acceptance. Many questions remain, including the timeline for ETFs that invest directly in coins (rather than futures) and the role of regulators in
Global Supply Chains are Under Pressure and it’s a Problem Around the world, supply chains are groaning under the weight of pandemic disruptions, materials shortages, and a lack of key workers. In some places, such as the UK, these problems are being exacerbated by domestic factors. At the same time, reopening is driving record levels
Energy Prices are Spiking as the World Weighs its Climate Change Agenda Even as world leaders prepare to gather at the UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26), global fossil fuel prices are spiking. Oil prices have hit three-year highs and natural gas prices are soaring amid rising demand and supply challenges.
The Applications of Artificial Intelligence in Banking and Finance Artificial intelligence (AI) has revolutionized financial technology (FinTech), introducing a wide range of new tools that are transforming the business of finance across departments and functions. This article gives a brief intro into three areas AI is applied in finance: Credit risk Fraud &
