World’s Best Banks: Asia-Pacific
The 2025 Asia‑Pacific banking review highlights a split in net interest margins as central banks diverged in policy. Japan’s rate hikes boosted NIMs, enabling MUFG to post a 30% profit surge to about $12 billion, while China’s cuts drove NIMs to historic lows, limiting ICBC’s earnings growth. Southeast Asian banks maintained solid ROE through loan growth and improved cost efficiency. Across the region, digital transformation, AI adoption, and fee‑income diversification offset pressure on traditional interest margins.
World’s Best Banks 2026: Central & Eastern Europe
In 2025 Central and Eastern European (CEE) banks posted stronger fortunes despite war in Ukraine, a fragile euro‑zone recovery and falling rates, with larger institutions better weathering the environment. State‑driven bank taxes, especially in Hungary, could shave roughly 8% off...
World’s Best Banks 2026: Latin America
The 2026 World’s Best Banks in Latin America highlight a shift toward efficiency, digital adoption, and selective growth amid resilient household cash flows and cautious corporate lending. Itaú Unibanco led the region with a 13.1% net‑income rise to $8.5 billion, a...
World’s Best Banks 2026: Middle East
Global Finance’s 2026 Middle East winners are accelerating digital transformation, AI adoption, and ESG integration to deepen client engagement across retail, wealth, corporate, and SME segments. Arab Bank leveraged a new branding campaign, AI‑driven Frontline Assistant, and cross‑border Arabi Access...
World’s Best Banks 2026: North America
The 2026 World’s Best Banks awards highlight North American banks accelerating growth through AI, fintech partnerships, and embedded finance. Leaders such as BMO, RBC, Bank of America, Truist, Citizens, Fifth Third, Regions, and BMO Harris are rolling out AI‑driven platforms, open‑banking...
World’s Best Banks 2026: Western Europe
Western European banks proved resilient in 2025 despite the ECB’s rate‑easing cycle, with the sector’s aggregate CET1 ratio climbing to 16.1% and ROE stabilising around 10%. Margin pressure prompted a shift toward fee‑based income, M&A activity and fintech acquisitions to...
DBS Group: Putting AI Into The Bank’s DNA
DBS Group reported record financial results in 2025, with total income of S$22.9 bn (≈$18 bn) and profit before tax of S$13.1 bn (≈$9.7 bn), driving its market capitalization past $100 bn and closing the year at $124 bn. The bank scaled its AI engine to...
OTP Bank: Becoming AI And Data Literate
OTP Bank posted a return on equity above 20% and a €118 billion ($129 billion) balance sheet in 2025, with more than 70% of profit now generated outside Hungary. Double‑digit loan‑book growth across eleven markets underpinned the results, and the bank aims...
Suntera’s Von Bevern on the ‘Speed’ Advantage of Private Credit
Michael Von Berven, Global Head of Funds at Suntera Global, explains that private credit’s chief advantage is speed, allowing high‑growth companies to secure capital faster than traditional banks. The sector offers senior term loans, mezzanine and subordinated debt that preserve ownership,...
Here’s Why Mastercard Is Betting Big on BVNK — and Stablecoin
Mastercard announced it will acquire stablecoin infrastructure provider BVNK for a potential $1.8 billion, with the deal expected to close by the end of 2026. BVNK brings a portfolio of hard‑to‑obtain licenses and a network of liquidity providers that will allow...
Assisting NATO: New Defense Bank Takes Shape
Canada hosted representatives from 18 nations this spring to launch the Defence, Security & Resilience Bank (DSRB), a proposed multilateral AAA‑rated lender aimed at financing defense projects. Backers plan to raise about $135 billion in capital, enabling member governments to borrow...
AI Fraud Outpaces Board Decision-Making
A March 2025 survey by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners and SAS found AI‑driven fraud schemes are outpacing detection, with only 7% of anti‑fraud professionals feeling more than moderately prepared. Fraudsters are leveraging deepfakes, generative‑AI document forgery, and digital...
IMF, World Bank Reopen Venezuela’s Door to Global Markets
The IMF and World Bank have officially restored formal relations with Venezuela, ending a hiatus that began in 2019. Interim President Delcy Rodríguez has asked IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva for access to the country’s $5 billion in special drawing rights to...
Three Bankers Lead Pack to Replace Lagarde at ECB
European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde may exit before her October 2027 mandate ends, though no decision has been confirmed. An early departure would give French President Emmanuel Macron significant sway over the successor selection. Three central‑bank veterans – Germany's...
Global Salon: Why Finance Should Govern AI
Mark Koziel, senior CPA leader, argues that finance functions—especially CFOs—should govern AI adoption, treating it like financial controls under frameworks such as COSO and ISO 42001. He highlights a shift toward strategic advisory roles, noting that AI is a catalyst for...
Cyber Insurance: Marginal No More
Cyber insurance has shifted from a niche product to a core corporate concern as U.S. breach costs top $10.2 million in 2025, double the global average. Claim severity for large U.S. firms jumped from $700,000 in 2020 to $4.4 million last year,...
AI’s Delicate Banking Balancing Act
Banks that spent the last decade rebuilding balance sheets and navigating low‑rate environments are now confronting AI disruption. More than 90% of banks have begun AI initiatives, and S&P Global forecasts average return on equity could rise from 12% to...
Sri Lanka: FDI Is on the Rise
Sri Lanka’s Board of Investment reported a 72% jump in 2025 foreign direct investment, topping $1.06 billion for the first time. Greenfield projects surged, accounting for 13% of total FDI with 24 new ventures worth $134 million. The inflow is led by...
Dubai’s ENBD Makes Biggest Foreign Bet on Indian Banking
Emirates NBD Bank (ENBD) is set to become the largest foreign investor in India’s banking sector by acquiring a 74% stake in private lender RBL for roughly $3 billion. While ENBD will hold a majority of paid‑up capital, its voting power...
China Turns to Regulatory Easing as Banking Pressures Mount
China is intensifying regulatory easing to support its strained banking sector after a ¥300 billion ($44 billion) capital injection announced in March. Policymakers are considering loosening shareholding limits and encouraging perpetual bonds to broaden equity sources, especially for smaller regional banks. The...
Japan Bond Yields Surge as Inflation Fears Grow
Japanese 10‑year government bond yields jumped to about 2.44%, the highest level in nearly 30 years, as core inflation accelerated to 1.8% in March and geopolitical tensions kept energy prices high. The Bank of Japan has kept its policy rate...
Cannabis Policy Shift in US Doesn’t Move the Money
The U.S. Department of Justice reclassified cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III, granting it formal medical recognition but leaving the industry’s banking landscape largely unchanged. Large, publicly traded multi‑state operators already enjoy limited banking access, while the majority of smaller growers...
Japan: Passive Anchor Turned Capital Powerhouse
Japan is shedding its image as a passive anchor of ultra‑low rates, with monetary normalization driving yields on Japanese Government Bonds higher. A narrowing interest‑rate gap with the United States is prompting global investors to rebalance allocations toward Japan. Simultaneously,...
The IPO Window Is Open—A Crack
The IPO market is tightening as firms like Blackstone‑backed Liftoff Mobile pull and quickly refile their registration statements, reflecting heightened uncertainty. Fintechs such as Clear Street and crypto platform Kraken have also shelved listings, while recent IPOs—from Brazil’s Agibank to...
Defense Stocks Reload With IPO Momentum
German defense manufacturer Vincorion’s IPO on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange opened at €19.30 per share, boosting its equity valuation to €980 million (about $1.13 billion) after strong oversubscription. The company posted an 18% revenue increase to €240 million and more than doubled net...
US Regulators Lift Veil On Digital Assets
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission released a joint 68‑page interpretation that classifies most major cryptocurrencies as digital commodities rather than securities. The guidance addresses staking, mining, airdrops and token wrapping, offering a clear...
Ghana Gambles On Gold Royalties
Ghana introduced a sliding‑scale gold royalty that rises to 12% once the spot price passes $4,500 per ounce, immediately placing the country’s major miners in the highest tax bracket as gold traded above $5,000. The sector, which produced a record...
Cuba Courts Exiles, Entrepreneurs In Reform Effort
Cuba has unveiled Decree‑Law 114/2025, creating mixed limited‑liability companies (SRL mixta) that let private firms, state entities and foreign partners jointly manage accounts, pricing and trade. The reform also permits Cuban expatriates to open foreign‑currency accounts and own or partner...
How Autonomous Treasury Fixes Slow Cash Checks
Corporate treasurers are moving from batch‑mode cash forecasts to an autonomous treasury model that combines real‑time cash positioning with AI‑driven, rule‑based fund movements. The transition hinges on three pillars: instantaneous balance visibility, just‑in‑time payments across instant and traditional rails, and...
Hungary: Crossroads Ahead
Hungary’s April 12 election ended Viktor Orbán’s 16‑year rule, ushering in Peter Magyar’s Tisza party. The new government inherits a stagnant economy but Fitch projects 2.3% GDP growth in 2026 and 2.6% in 2027, with inflation easing to 3.5%. Foreign...
Private Credit Stress Test: What Breaks And What Holds
Private credit has sidestepped a Lehman‑style collapse, yet mounting liquidity squeezes, leverage concerns, and transparency gaps are testing the sector’s durability. A wave of redemption requests forced firms such as Morgan Stanley, Apollo Global Management, BlackRock and Blue Owl Capital...
Private Credit’s Next Bet: Intellectual Property
Private credit is turning to asset‑based finance (ABF), using intellectual property (IP) as collateral, as the sector’s assets under management are projected to surpass $2 trillion this year and approach $4 trillion by 2030. Valuing illiquid IP—such as data sets, software, patents,...
CFO Corner: Iker Etxezarreta Fraile, Faes Farma
CFO Iker Etxezarreta outlines Faes Farma’s push for tighter governance, transparent finance communication, and a strategic FP&A role that links past performance to future decisions. He emphasizes disciplined capital allocation and liquidity management to fund growth while keeping debt in...
World’s Best Investment Banks 2026: Good Times Fizzle Away
Global M&A activity that surged past $5 trillion in 2025 stalled sharply in Q1 2026, with Dealogic reporting a 28% drop to $1.08 bn and 7,740 deals. The slowdown follows the US‑Israel‑Iran conflict that sent crude oil futures up 73% YTD, raising...
World’s Best Investment Banks: Global Winners
Global Finance Magazine’s 2025 rankings spotlight the year’s top investment banks across multiple specialties. Goldman Sachs retained the No. 1 spot for IPO execution, advising mega‑deals such as the $53 billion Hess‑Chevron sale and the $7.2 billion Medline offering, while global investment‑banking revenue...
World’s Best Investment Banks 2026: Africa
The 2026 Global Finance ranking highlights Rand Merchant Bank, Standard Chartered, Chapel Hill Denham and Absa as Africa’s top investment banks. RMB delivered $939.2 million profit before tax and a 20.7% ROE while commanding a 16% South African M&A market share....
World’s Best Investment Banks 2026: Asia-Pacific
Asia‑Pacific investment banks are cementing dominance as deal flow surges across M&A, equity and debt markets. ICBC reported $121 billion operating income and led China’s merger financing and bond underwriting, while DBS facilitated a $1.1 billion brokerage merger in Singapore and multiple...
World’s Best Investment Banks 2026: Central & Eastern Europe
The 2026 Global Finance ranking spotlights four Central and Eastern European banks that dominated 2025 deal flow. PKO Bank Polski coordinated Allegro’s €677 million accelerated book‑build and issued a €500 million green bond, while Bank Pekao advised the €1.2 billion Packeta Group sale...
World’s Best Investment Banks 2026: Latin America
Latin America’s investment banking sector showed robust activity in 2025, with BTG Pactual reaffirming its lead by generating $15 bn in M&A, $2 bn in equity capital markets and over $159 bn in debt capital markets. Itaú BBA leveraged a market rebound to...
World’s Best Investment Banks 2026: Middle East
In 2025 the Middle East’s investment‑banking scene was driven by post‑pandemic growth, energy diversification and sweeping capital‑market reforms. KFH Capital topped the list, executing over $60 billion in transactions and leading 16 debt issuances, including a landmark $3 billion sukuk for Saudi...
World’s Best Investment Banks 2026: North America
In 2025 North America’s investment banks overcame early‑year geopolitical and tariff headwinds, with J.P. Morgan, Houlihan Lokey, Morgan Stanley and BofA Securities emerging as the top performers. J.P. Morgan drove a $1 billion Circle deal, a $364 million Heartflow offering and advised a $15 billion Walgreens...
World’s Best Investment Banks 2026: Western Europe
The 2026 Global Finance ranking spotlights Western Europe’s top investment banks as the region rebounds. UBS led equity capital markets, coordinating the €808 m (≈$874 m) Ottobock IPO and a £348 m (≈$467 m) UK listing, while Rothschild & Co dominated M&A with 362...
Houlihan Lokey: Hiring Top Talent Is The Key
Houlihan Lokey reported closing 458 M&A deals in 2025, surpassing giants such as Goldman Sachs, Rothschild and JPMorgan Chase. The firm attributes the surge to deep sector expertise combined with a broad geographic footprint—55% of its revenue comes from the U.S. and...
Rand Merchant Bank: Cautious Optimism
Rand Merchant Bank (RMB) sees Africa’s deal‑making environment as cautiously optimistic, with moderate growth in deal volume driven by energy and digital sectors. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is expected to unlock larger cross‑border mergers and create a...
Saudi Arabia: IPO Magnet
Saudi Arabia cemented its role as the Gulf’s premier IPO hub in 2025, delivering 37 of the region’s 42 listings and raising roughly $4.2 billion. The Saudi Stock Exchange’s Main Market and its Nomu parallel market split the flow, with Nomu...
Q&A: How Lebanon’s Aviation Chief Keeps Beirut Airport Open Amid Iran War Chaos
Amid the US‑Israeli war on Iran, Beirut’s Rafic Hariri Airport remains operational despite daily Israeli strikes near the city. Captain Mohammed Aziz, head of Lebanon’s Civil Aviation Authority, says Middle East Airlines (MEA) is the sole carrier still flying, operating...
Corridor Of Power: China’s Inland Hub Connects to ASEAN
China’s New International Land‑Sea Trade Corridor (New ILSTC) moved 1.425 million TEUs in 2025, a 47.6% year‑on‑year rise, and generated $196 billion in trade value, up 17.9%. ASEAN’s share of Chinese exports climbed to 17.6% in 2025, while shipments to Southeast Asia jumped...
Going Deeper: Trade Finance In Asia
Asian demand for trade finance remains robust despite US tariff uncertainty, with exporters turning to supply‑chain finance (SCF) and green financing solutions. Forecasts show a 9.8% CAGR for overall SCF and an 18.6% CAGR for sustainable SCF through 2033, reflecting...
The Gulf’s Digital Transformation
The United Arab Emirates is positioning itself as the Gulf’s premier hub for digital assets, with regulators such as VARA, ADGM and the Securities and Commodities Authority creating a clear, activity‑based framework for tokenized securities, real estate and even oil‑backed...
New Frontier In The Gulf
Private credit in the Gulf is moving from a niche to a fast‑growing asset class, with the market expected to reach $11‑20 billion by 2030. A $250 billion financing gap for SMEs is driving sovereign wealth funds and regional managers to supply...