Finance Changed, Risks Didn't
you are currently viewing::Finance Changed, Risks Didn'tSeptember 10, 2025--New technologies are rewiring liquidity, payments, and economic stability As a result, the next shock may begin not in a bank, but in the new infrastructure underpinning the system. After 2008, regulators moved swiftly to raise capital standards and introduce new supervisory tools such as stress testing. Banks rebuilt their balance sheets and retreated from risky lending and arbitrage businesses. Asset managers were blamed for the financial turmoil at the onset of the pandemic, but not banks. Yet even as regulators fortified banks, postcrisis innovations reshaped the financial landscape. Asset managers provided more liquidity as banks stepped back, nonbank start-ups built new risk assessment tools for institutional lenders, developers introduced a wider array of crypto assets, and central banks and governments established real-time payment systems. Source: imf.org |
March 15, 2026-Global stocks continued to weaken last week, as the ongoing war in Iran kept oil prices high.
Oil prices have surged as the Iran conflict disrupts global supply, adding to inflation risks. At the same time, recent RBA commentary has sharply shifted market expectations- with investors now bracing for a possible rate hike this week.
March 6, 2026--Opportunities in the ETF market arise from increasing adoption of digital platforms, demand for ESG and smart beta products, and expanding cross-border investments. Growth is driven by thematic trends like EVs, sustainable investing, and innovative offerings, enhanced by asset management diversification and trading efficiency.
March 6, 2026-The Iran war has significantly disrupted global energy markets, damaging oil and gas facilities and halting exports through the Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime chokepoint.
Brent oil prices surged over 28% to above $92 per barrel due to supply concerns. The U.S. responded by offering naval escorts and easing Russian oil sanctions on India to stabilize markets.
March 6, 2026-Investment firm Wilshire has told clients that production and publication of all indexes not already sold or returned to the asset manager's ownership will be discontinued.
Wilshire Indexes, the dedicated index operations arm set up by US asset manager Wilshire to run its growing index portfolio, as well as index operations of its partner parent groups, has closed.
March 5, 2026--Global debt markets are navigating a difficult terrain. Geopolitical tensions, trade disputes, and an uncertain macroeconomic environment are adding pressure to already stretched markets. But debt markets have been resilient so far. This stability, however, masks deeper structural developments.
February 27, 2026--New data published by the World Federation of Exchanges (WFE), the global industry group for exchanges and CCPs, shows markets rebounded in the second half of 2025. IPO activity remained robust over the year, pointing to sustained demand for public listings against a challenging global backdrop.
Global equity market capitalisation increased 18.5% compared to the end of 2024, amounting to USD 151.94 trillion, with double-digit growth in every region.
February 26, 2026--Global debt climbed to $348 trillion by the end of 2025, the highest on record, per the Institute of International Finance.
Government borrowing accounted for over $10 trillion of the increase, led by the United States, China, and the euro area.
Emerging markets saw debt ratios rise above 235% of GDP, while advanced economies saw a slight decline in debt-to-GDP ratios.
February 26, 2026--ETFGI reported today that assets invested in the actively managed ETFs industry globally reached a new record of US$2.04 trillion at the end of January. During January the actively managed ETFs industry globally gathered record monthly net inflows of US$76.43 billion, according to ETFGI's January 2026 Active ETF industry landscape insights report, an annual paid-for research subscription service.
February 26, 2026--Assets invested in the ETFs industry globally reached a new record of US$20.64 trillion at the end of January. During January, the ETFs industry globally gathered net inflows of US$150.41 billion, according to ETFGI's January 2026 Global ETFs and ETPs industry landscape insights report, the monthly report which is part of ETFGI's an annual paid-for research subscription service.
February 18, 2026--Diversification has become harder since 2020 as stocks and bonds tend to move in tandem during sharp selloffs, adding to financial stability concerns
Spreading investments across asset classes can reduce risk and smooth returns. The classic diversification between stocks and bonds worked historically because they moved in opposite directions.