It will take several months for a clear picture to emerge as to how the behaviours and practices of participants in the M&A market have changed in the wake of the National Security and Investment Act 2021 coming into force on January 4, 2022.

Climate change represents a material, but often hidden risk, to the business models of many Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). At the same time, these organisations are critical to achieving the UK's carbon targets. 

In response to new legislation, representatives of UK financial services companies are calling on the government to beef up its competitiveness objective as the country prepares to rip up swathes of EU rules.

A series of consultations by the EU, US and the new International Sustainability Standards Board are an opportunity to drive greater harmonisation in ESG standards, according to financial firms and regulators.

Signs of contagion among stablecoins are likely to prompt a rapid clean-up of the sector by regulators concerned that problems in the sector could infect traditional financial markets.  

Increased capital requirements threaten to restrict banks’ ability to fund trade finance deals and further constrain economic growth. Distribution of trade finance assets to investors is emerging as a practical solution to a looming crisis.

The size and scope of the crypto industry is growing rapidly, which has caught the eye of regulators. Today, the global market cap of the crypto industry is $2.1tn, while a recent NBC poll found that one in five adults in the US has invested in, traded or used cryptocurrencies.

The Covid-19 pandemic is barely winding down and already prominent global bodies are sounding warnings over new dangers to financial stability, this time relating to soaring inflation, rising interest rates, emerging market vulnerabilities and the war in Ukraine.