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The World Bank forecasts global growth at 2.7% for 2025-26, with emerging markets facing slower progress towards advance...
17/01/2025

The World Bank forecasts global growth at 2.7% for 2025-26, with emerging markets facing slower progress towards advanced economies. Key risks: policy uncertainty, trade shifts and climate shocks. Policy reforms and resilience-building are vital.

Global growth set to remain below pre-Covid average in 2025/6, says World Bank

Michael Barr’s early exit as Fed vice-chair for supervision paves the way for Christopher Waller or Michelle Bowman. The...
16/01/2025

Michael Barr’s early exit as Fed vice-chair for supervision paves the way for Christopher Waller or Michelle Bowman. Their focus on lighter regulation and market-driven innovation could signal a shift in US financial oversight under Trump’s second term.

https://on.ft.com/3E7nMXu

Trump’s Wall Street-friendly agenda depends on having key financial supervisors in place

Italy may block UniCredit’s €10.1bn bid for Banco BPM using its “golden power” rules. Rome opposes the deal, citing risk...
15/01/2025

Italy may block UniCredit’s €10.1bn bid for Banco BPM using its “golden power” rules. Rome opposes the deal, citing risks to jobs & national banking plans. Could this set a precedent for political interference in EU banking mergers?

Governments may add complexity to European M&A deals because of national interest

Global fintech investment fell 20% in 2024, but optimism remains. The UK secured $3.6bn, a 37% YoY drop, while the US le...
14/01/2025

Global fintech investment fell 20% in 2024, but optimism remains. The UK secured $3.6bn, a 37% YoY drop, while the US led with $22bn. Can renewed VC interest and IPO/M&A opportunities drive recovery? Signs point to 2025 growth.

Brazil, Canada and the Netherlands buck trend with investment set to recover in 2025

Trump’s victory casts a shadow on US sustainability efforts, emboldening naysayers. But CSOs can adapt by aligning ESG w...
30/12/2024

Trump’s victory casts a shadow on US sustainability efforts, emboldening naysayers. But CSOs can adapt by aligning ESG with profitability, navigating global regulations and leveraging partnerships. Resilience and strategy will be critical to progress.

https://on.ft.com/4gzFTng

Chief sustainability officers face setbacks under a climate-sceptic US president, but not all is lost

BBVA CEO Onur Genç sees scale as vital for sustaining digital costs, with 67% of customer acquisitions online. The Sabad...
27/12/2024

BBVA CEO Onur Genç sees scale as vital for sustaining digital costs, with 67% of customer acquisitions online. The Sabadell bid faces resistance, but Genç says stronger EU banks are key to growth.

Onur Genç talks about BBVA’s bid for Banco Sabadell, Spain’s bank tax and consolidation in Europe

A US pivot on crypto? Trump’s incoming administration may repeal SAB 121, enabling banks to embrace crypto custody servi...
20/12/2024

A US pivot on crypto? Trump’s incoming administration may repeal SAB 121, enabling banks to embrace crypto custody services. With BNY Mellon leading the charge, will regulation finally unlock institutional adoption? Change is on the horizon.

Major lenders weigh crypto opportunities as US moves towards clearer digital asset rules

2024 saw record heat and fading climate commitments in banking. Goldman Sachs exited NZBA, Morgan Stanley widened target...
19/12/2024

2024 saw record heat and fading climate commitments in banking. Goldman Sachs exited NZBA, Morgan Stanley widened targets, and critics warn of “backsliding”. As political winds shift, can banks balance climate action with growth?

Are banks’ climate shifts a retreat or a response to new political realities?

PAPSS is transforming African trade by enabling cross-border payments without third-party currencies, saving $5bn yearly...
18/12/2024

PAPSS is transforming African trade by enabling cross-border payments without third-party currencies, saving $5bn yearly. With 150+ banks onboarded, it’s easing the way for transactions across key markets like Ghana and Nigeria.

Afreximbank chair Benedict Oramah on the bank’s pan-African payment initiative and new FX platform

US banks may face fewer enforcement actions as Trump reshapes regulators and courts limit watchdog powers. Fintech scrut...
17/12/2024

US banks may face fewer enforcement actions as Trump reshapes regulators and courts limit watchdog powers. Fintech scrutiny may ease, but AI and cybersecurity remain key areas of focus. Change will be gradual, experts say.

https://on.ft.com/3DkPgsx

Legal experts say scrutiny on agreements between banks and fintechs, among other areas, will lessen

UniCredit’s bold M&A moves are shaking Europe’s banking landscape. With record deal volumes in 2024 and excess capital i...
16/12/2024

UniCredit’s bold M&A moves are shaking Europe’s banking landscape. With record deal volumes in 2024 and excess capital in hand, could 2025 see a wave of consolidations? From Italy’s BPM to BBVA-Sabadell in Spain, all eyes are on the next deal.

What will spur European banking mergers, and which markets stand to gain the most?

Trump’s re-election fuels optimism in investment banking. Banking leaders see deregulation unlocking capital for high-ma...
13/12/2024

Trump’s re-election fuels optimism in investment banking. Banking leaders see deregulation unlocking capital for high-margin activities and predict 2025 deal growth. Yet tariffs, courts and geopolitics may temper long-term momentum.

Wall Street likes Trump’s agenda but underlying concerns remain

At last week’s Global Banking Summit, investment banking editor Michael Klimes sat down with Behind the Money host Miche...
11/12/2024

At last week’s Global Banking Summit, investment banking editor Michael Klimes sat down with Behind the Money host Michela Tindera to analyse how the banking industry will shape up during Donald Trump’s second term in the White House.

Tune in here:

Listen to a live recording from the FT Global Banking Summit!

Crédit Agricole ups its stake in Banco BPM to 15.1%, complicating UniCredit’s €10.1bn bid. Examine our interactive graph...
11/12/2024

Crédit Agricole ups its stake in Banco BPM to 15.1%, complicating UniCredit’s €10.1bn bid. Examine our interactive graphic which illustrates the challenges involved in consolidating the highly fragmented European banking landscape.

How a national merger could boost the prospects of Italy’s second-largest bank

Is “juniorisation” pushing out veteran bankers, or is it a natural handover to the next generation? Narrower pathways an...
10/12/2024

Is “juniorisation” pushing out veteran bankers, or is it a natural handover to the next generation? Narrower pathways and AI’s impact are reshaping careers. Staying relevant is critical as industry transitions accelerate.

Juniorisation is reshaping the industry, leaving senior bankers to navigate narrowing career paths

Transforming finance is critical as climate, biodiversity and land risks grow, writes Marcos Neto. The leaders will be t...
09/12/2024

Transforming finance is critical as climate, biodiversity and land risks grow, writes Marcos Neto. The leaders will be those who embed sustainability in strategy. The rewards are resilience, growth and opportunity in a sustainable economy.

From green bonds to nature-based solutions, finance finds growth in sustainability, writes Marcos Neto

The Bank of the Year Awards aim to recognise banks that have grown while retaining a solid balance sheet, improved the q...
05/12/2024

The Bank of the Year Awards aim to recognise banks that have grown while retaining a solid balance sheet, improved the quality of their service, invested in technology and considered their role within their local communities.

Discover this year’s winners: https://on.ft.com/49EtlIZ

With challenging economic conditions and rising geopolitical risk, strong and safe banking markets are all the more important

US banking is shrinking fast: regional lenders could fall from 4,500 to 1,000 by 2027, says Bob Diamond of Atlas Merchan...
04/12/2024

US banking is shrinking fast: regional lenders could fall from 4,500 to 1,000 by 2027, says Bob Diamond of Atlas Merchant Capital. With $12.5bn in M&A so far this year, private capital and foreign banks are set to reshape the sector.

‘Best investment opportunity I’ve ever seen,’ says Atlas Merchant Capital CEO Diamond

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