Inspired by a wave of disruptive digital innovation, the last decade has witnessed perhaps the most rapid evolutionary change ever within the global banking system. Thanks mostly to a combination of greatly heightened expectations from banking customers and the sustained development of the financial-technology (fintech) sector,
When examining the success of the world’s biggest companies, it is astounding to chart just how quickly many of them have been able to create value for their users and, in doing so, attain their status of “apex predator”. More often than not, moreover, it has been their skills at exploiting network effects that have enabled them to achieve such dominance.
On June 20, 2020, it was reported that 20-year-old Alexander Kearns, a student at the University of Nebraska, had taken his own life after believing he had racked up more than $700,000 in losses by trading options using the popular Robinhood investing app.
The investment-management industry is undergoing arguably its most disruptive period ever. Thanks to a new wave of disruptive technologies, the very concept of investing is being transformed from a practice that was relationship-driven
A sale isn’t a sale until the money actually changes hands, whether the payment occurs in a retail store or online. As consumers increasingly turn to cyber-space, it behooves CFOs to seal any cracks in their digital-payments systems. Central areas to consider include competitive advantage and business model innovation; optimization and streamlining costs; localization return on investment and new market growth strategies; and connected finance, cash flow and treasury management.
In the banking world, where handling money safely and securely is a foundational element of the entire industry, having the public’s trust is a nonnegotiable element of success. The financial industry had to scramble to rebuild this trust after it took a hit during the Great Recession
Technology has responded to the call to produce innovations that will slow global warming, creating an arsenal of renewable-energy alternatives to fossil fuels. But distribution of these innovations to developing countries has not kept pace, and they are lagging behind in low-carbon adoption. What needs to be done to transfer and deploy existing low-carbon technologies throughout the globe as quickly as possible? The answer lies in solutions such as trade.
It’s certain that the framers of the Constitution of the United States were not thinking internet when they penned the supreme law of the land. But many parts of it, especially the First and Fourth Amendments, have grown in significance in the Digital Age. The First protects the citizen’s right to free speech; the Fourth, his or her right to privacy. Are both rights still secure in today’s interconnected world?
It’s not been an easy ride for the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) over the past couple of years – economic uncertainty, increased regulation and an ever-pressing need to cut costs and grow revenue has taken its toll. And with innovation continuing to buffet the workplace, upending business models and increasing customer demand, it’s no surprise that CFO turnover is on the up.
Cyber-hackers are using increasingly sophisticated and complex malicious software that can make early detection of fraudulent activity difficult. To protect themselves, financial institutions need not only technological excellence but also effective training mechanisms to promote vigilance among their workforce. While cybersecurity software is extremely useful, cyber-protection must begin at home, with knowledgeable staff who are equipped to recognise and thwart cyber-breaches. This can be accomplished only with constructive staff cyber-training.