With the election of Donald Trump as the next US president, the future of financial regulation and its impact on the country's equity markets has become a key focus for industry participants. After years of SEC-driven regulatory crackdowns, the new administration could now turn the tide – which many believe may supercharge the US equities market.  

As head of the Office for the Comptroller of the Currency, Michael J Hsu has a unique viewpoint on the US banking system. In what could be one of his last interviews in office, he speaks to Euromoney about the future of the system – and how small and medium-sized banks can survive in an era when technology spend is only becoming more important.

US banks will get a trading and dealmaking boost from Trump’s re-election, but rising Treasury yields could pose challenges.

A second Donald Trump presidency could be a game changer for banks across the US. Senior bank executives must think deeply not just about the potential for regulatory relief and higher investment banking revenue, but also – beyond the big four – about new scope to make transformational strategic moves.

Euromoney’s chief research officer Andrei Charniauski took on the most pressing question at Sibos in Beijing: how can the financial services industry reduce cost, increase speed and improve access? Payments data could be the answer, according to a panel of experts.

Banks are going to great lengths to digitise trade processes while acknowledging the various obstacles to completely removing manual or paper-based transactions.

US and Canadian banks may have had a head start in generative AI, but some European banks are trying to close the gap. Those in charge of harnessing the technology at big banks in Europe say they are gaining confidence in its use: adapting marketing shots to certain client profiles, helping sales managers to sift through product policies and much more.

Four months on from North America’s move to a shorter settlement cycle, market participants have used a combination of liquidity management, technology pivots and human resources to mitigate their exposure to higher FX costs.

Balancing growth and risk is a delicate task for banks. By understanding client needs and leverage their technology capabilities, banks can not only maintain this balance but also tap into new opportunities in emerging industries. The partnership between Deutsche Bank and Chinese fintech XTransfer, highlighted by their recent success in Thailand, serves as a prime example of how tailored solutions and innovative processes can drive growth and operational efficiency.

While treasurers see promise in regulatory changes such as ISO 20022 and the digital euro, concerns over compliance pressures and potential disruptions are mounting, according to the Corporate Treasurers on Key Trends in Cash Management report, published by Euromoney earlier this month.

Former credit trader Shikha Gupta discovers that a verbal contract isn’t worth the paper it is written on.

Proponents of banking-as-a-service will be hoping that UniCredit’s decision to acquire Aion Bank and Vodeno marks a turning point in a sector that has experienced considerable volatility.

A perfect storm – triggered by the Sahm Rule, AI-driven transactions and the unwinding of the yen carry trade – sent the Japanese and global stock markets on a wild ride. While the Bank of Japan gains more flexibility to raise rates after the unwinding, investors remain optimistic about the long-term prospects of Japanese equities.

Alongside UniCredit’s recent acquisition of Polish financial technology company Vodeno, the US private equity takeover of VeloBank is another sign of renewed optimism in Poland.

Revolut is strongly profitable while growing fast, diversifying revenues and finally being admitted to the banking club. Watch out.

UK pension schemes have made clear their opposition to reduced investors protections, while the FCA may come to regret pushing through its new listing regime.

Bankruptcies in the buy-now-pay-later market, together with tighter regulation, present an opportunity for banks to steal a march on pure-play providers.

Basel-endgame pushback has reduced the urgency for US banks to relieve capital, but investor appetite for significant risk transfer trades is spilling over to Europe.

Donald Trump is now likely to win the US presidential election after a disastrous debate performance by incumbent Joe Biden. Trump 2.0 may bring complications as well as benefits for Wall Street.

Derivatives structurers are thriving, but regulators aren’t convinced the biggest Wall Street banks have a firm grasp of their complex exposure.

The immediate aftermath of the launch of T+1 settlement in the US on May 28 suggests the acceleration has not yet translated into increased FX risk. But it is still too early to tell what the longer-term impact will be.

With corporates taking a more holistic view of sustainability, banks are under pressure to address concerns over reporting and verification requirements for sustainable working capital, trade finance and liquidity management products.

Mexican banks have sold off hard since Claudia Sheinbaum – as widely expected – was confirmed as the country’s next president.

The absence of staking and the earlier approval of spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds have sucked much of the excitement out of the SEC’s surprising decision to greenlight spot Ethereum ETFs.

For the US to come out in support of voluntary carbon markets even while arguing for their reform is an important step in the drive to seek better standards for what are vital – albeit flawed – mechanisms. But more guidelines on how to certify and trade offsets are no substitute for the real thing.

Does the high number of drawn-out insolvency cases in the UK suggest a failure of regulation?

Will increased transparency in the European corporate bond market lead to higher transaction costs for large trades?

In an interview with Euromoney, European Banking Authority chair José Manuel Campa joins the European Central Bank and others in pressuring banks to do more to prepare for geopolitical risks spreading from Russia to China, the US and Middle East.

Banks and regulators are keen to use instant payments to reduce the influence of Visa and Mastercard on the European payments industry – but replacing these two dominant players will be far from easy.

As mandated real-time payments loom, Europe’s banks and other payment providers must look at modernising legacy infrastructure.