Curated updates on major deals, regulation, and strategic moves across private markets, venture, and institutional finance.
Banking Sector Repositioning as Capital Markets Activity Shifts Regionally
Global investment banks are undergoing a strategic recalibration as capital markets activity fragments along regional lines. After a prolonged period of subdued issuance in the US and Europe, deal flow has begun to re-emerge elsewhere, particularly across parts of Asia where listings, private placements, and structured financings are regaining momentum.
Shadow Banking and Systemic Risk Re-Enter the Policy Conversation
Non-bank financial institutions have become an indispensable component of the global financial system. Over the past decade, they have filled gaps left by retrenching banks, providing credit to corporates, consumers, and governments through a growing array of funds, vehicles, and intermediaries. This expansion has supported economic activity and enhanced market flexibility. It has also reintroduced an old concern into policy debates: systemic risk accumulating outside the perimeter of traditional regulation.
Private Markets Open to Retail Capital—At a Cost
Private equity and private credit have long been the preserve of institutional investors, family offices, and ultra-high-net-worth individuals. That boundary is now being tested. Asset managers, encouraged by regulatory changes and the search for new fee pools, are increasingly marketing private market strategies to retail and semi-professional investors.
Regulatory Scrutiny Intensifies on AI and Financial Decision-Making
Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping how financial institutions assess risk, allocate capital, and interact with clients. From credit underwriting and fraud detection to portfolio construction and customer engagement, AI-driven tools promise efficiency gains and enhanced decision-making. Yet as adoption accelerates, regulators are moving decisively to assert oversight, signalling that technological innovation will be tolerated only insofar as it aligns with established principles of accountability, transparency, and market integrity.