Storm-7 Consulting Limited

#Storm7Consulting #FT #LombardOdier #ColdWar2 #AI #artificialintelligence #China #UnitedStates #globalisation #war #economicwar How bloc mentality is transforming business models and supply chains. Sammy Chaar, Chief Economist and Chief Information Officer (CIO) Switzerland, Bank Lombadier Odier, is interviewed by the Financial Times (FT) (Video: 3:26 minutes, brand partnership between the FT and Lombard Odier). KEY POINTS ◾ The interview with Mr Chaar is quick and interesting, but it may require some explanation and some contextual filling for some viewers which we attempt to provide here. ◾ Mr Chaar refers to the new world order today as "Cold War 2.0" (CW2), which is a new term that has been widely mentioned in recent times. ◾ The "Cold War" refers to the ongoing political rivalry that arose between the United States (US) and the Soviet Union from 1947 to 1991. ◾ CW2 loosely refers to the economic and social dominance competition and confrontation that now exists between economic blocs, and is most acutely characterised by the competition that has arisen between China and the US. ◾ In a world characterised by CW2, Mr Chaar asserts that "You need economic security in a world order that has changed". ◾ Consequently, CW2 has come to reflect certain principles such as "protect your domestic markets", e.g., this involves redefining trade routes and redefining foreign direct investments. ◾ CW2 also involves global competition for technology platforms. This relates to establishing technological dominance in general, as well as technological dominance in key strategic areas, the most important of which is high end microprocessors (HEMs). ◾ Each economic bloc is advancing and competing in different ways. For example, as a manufacturing society, the Chinese are heavily investing in robotics to automate manufacturing processes. ◾ As a service society, the US is seeking to compensate for missing workers through the large scale development of artificial intelligence (AI) applications. Consequently, the US is placing heavy emphasis on securing supply chains for HEMs. ◾ Mr Chaar believes this new bloc mentality does not represent "de-globalisation", but rather a reorganisation of globalisation to meet this new CW2 battleground between blocs. ◾ The end result for third party blocs and countries is: 1️⃣ to choose a side (i.e., China or the US); or 2️⃣ to play with both sides (e.g., as Europe is seeking to do). ◾ The ultimate question which Mr Chaar asks is: "Will China have the means to keep up the pace?" LINK 🔹 AJIA Journal (CW2): https://lnkd.in/ehc9F7mu. 🔹 FT Interview: https://lnkd.in/ec53k4_J. 🔹 University of Toronto (CW2): https://lnkd.in/eM5PZqAW. To receive notifications of new posts please follow #Storm7Consulting on LinkedIn: https://lnkd.in/e7wEZwBn. Thanks.

#Storm7Consulting #UK #FCA #regulation #banking #financialservices #retailbanks #CEOs In the United Kingdom (UK), the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has written an industry Strategy Letter to retail banks (RBs) to set out its key priorities in 2025 in relation to their retail banking and retail mortgage lending activities. KEY POINTS ◾ RBs are required to have effective cultures and controls in place relating to both financial conduct and non-financial conduct to address: 1️⃣ leadership and people management which establishes healthy, purposeful cultures in which all staff act with integrity and in a customer-centric way; 2️⃣ governance and oversight which is strong and balanced enough to plan and execute major changes in a way that safeguards customers; and 3️⃣ risk management frameworks, including cohesive lines of defence, that give proper early consideration to conduct risks, and to the monitoring of customer outcomes being delivered. ◾ The FCA summarises its priorities as covering SIX key areas which are: 1️⃣ Consumer Duty (CD); 2️⃣ treatment of customers in financial difficulty (TCFD); 3️⃣ access (i.e. customers not unreasonably/unlawfullly excluded from banking services or payment accounts); 4️⃣ operational resilience (OR); 5️⃣ financial crime and fraud (FCF); and 6️⃣ sustainable finance (SF). ◾ In ANNEX 1, the FCA sets out in detail a range of commentary, guidance, and insights on what steps it expects RBs to take in relation to each of the six key areas. ◾ The guidance contained in the ANNEX is important. It is recommended that senior managers and compliance personnel (SMCP) take the time to understand and evaluate the operational implications on retail banking activities. ◾ For example, in relation to FCF, there is a list of documents which SMCP should have read, digested, and have acquired a good working knowledge of. ◾ The commentary, guidance, and insights contained in Priority 1 (CD) are extensive. They will likely prove helpful to SMCP in carrying out a summary gap analysis with regards to internal retail banking activities and a firm's ongoing compliance with CD obligations. ◾ Unfortunately, the guidance provided to RBs in relation to SF is very weak. It is a real shame that the FCA did not take the time to provide worthwhile guidance to RBs in this area. This is not something that should have been overlooked in such a way by the FCA. LINK 🔹 FCA Strategy Letter (Retail Banks): https://lnkd.in/eg2WxCUU. To receive notifications of new posts please follow #Storm7Consulting on LinkedIn: https://lnkd.in/e7wEZwBn. Thanks.

#Storm7Consulting #UK #FCA #regulation #financialservices #culture #nonfinancialmisconduct #bullying #harassment The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has published the results of its culture and non-financial misconduct (NFM) survey. It was based on a survey of 1,028 regulated wholesale financial services firms, including banks, brokers, London market intermediaries, and London market insurers. KEY FINDINGS ◾ The number of reported allegations of NFM incidents increased between 2021 and 2023.  ◾ Bullying and harassment (n=26%) and discrimination (n=23%) were the most reported NFM types across all sectors. ◾ Firms identified incidents via: 1️⃣ reactive routes (e.g., grievances and similar formal processes (50%)); 2️⃣ alternative reporting routes (e.g., whistleblowing); and 3️⃣ firm-led detection methods (e.g., market surveillance). ◾ Disciplinary or 'other' actions were taken in 43% of cases. In the remainder (n=57%), cases were: 1️⃣ not investigated; 2️⃣ unable to conclude; 3️⃣ not upheld; 4️⃣ upheld with no other action; or 5️⃣ investigations were ongoing. ◾ Some types of reported NFM (e.g., violence, intimidation) more often resulted in disciplinary actions compared to other types (e.g., discrimination). ◾ The total number of confidentiality and settlement agreements (SCAs) imposed on complainants fell a comparatively small amount between 2021 and 2023 within the wholesale banks sector. ◾ 'Discrimination' complainants signed the highest number of SCAs (23% of cases on average across all sectors). ◾ In all sectors, action taken following NFM RARELY resulted in remuneration adjustment. When remuneration was adjusted, it was mostly against unvested variable pay (i.e., action taken resulted in a change in future bonus not a change in current underlying salary). ◾ Some policies (e.g., disciplinary, whistleblowing) were NOT in place at all firms surveyed (e.g., brokers, insurers). ◾ 41% of NFM incidents were reported in the 'other' category. This included the following types NFM: 1️⃣ breach of firm policy and procedures; 2️⃣ data protection and information technology security breaches (e.g., inappropriate sharing, access, or misuse of confidential company information, employees engaging in retaliatory behaviour in relation to allegations made against them); 3️⃣ inappropriate or offensive language or communication style within the firm or towards third parties (electronic communications, verbally); 4️⃣ intoxication or misuse of alcohol within the workplace or work-related environment; 5️⃣ misuse of expenses or gifts and hospitality; and 6️⃣ performance issues and related conduct breaches. LINKS 🔹 FCA Press Release: https://lnkd.in/eEyy3g5F. 🔹 FCA Survey: https://lnkd.in/eKRNgefN. To receive notifications of new posts please follow #Storm7Consulting on LinkedIn: https://lnkd.in/e7wEZwBn. Thanks.

#Storm7Consulting #US #officeoffinancialresearch #RCFS #events #conferences #callforpapers #financialmarkets #fintech #bigtech #financialstability #economics #finance #corporatefinance In the United States (US), the Office of Financial Research (OFR) and the Review of Corporate Finance Studies (RCFS) are co-hosting a Conference on the Future of Financial Stability on 2 May 2025. ABOUT THE CONFERENCE ◾ The conference seeks to bring together and showcase the work of "rising scholars" from economics and finance. Potential topics covered include: 1️⃣ BigTech finance, increased market concentration, and financial stability implications; 2️⃣ climate and geopolitical risks and implications for market stability; 3️⃣ connections between banks and non-banks (i.e., shadow banks, insurance companies, funds); 4️⃣ financial stability and implications for financial inclusion; 5️⃣ finanial technology (FinTech), financial inclusion and financial stability; 6️⃣ interactions between monetary policy, financial conditions, and fragilities in financial markets; 7️⃣ propagation of contagion from non-banks to the banking system; 8️⃣ risk-taking in the non-banking and FinTech sectors; and 9️⃣ the role of supervision, regulation, and transparency. ◾ As part of the conference, individuals are invited to submit high-quality theoretical and empirical paper submissions on the future of financial stability in the context of new challenges arising from developments in FinTech and shadow banking, and implications for financial inclusion. ◾ All authors must have received their Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) within the last six years. ◾ The stated objective of the conference is to showcase the work of YOUNG rising scholars. ◾ It is unfortunate that this policy of the conference, which seems to be ageist in nature, means that any OLD scholars who have received their PhD within the last six years will most likely NOT be welcome to submit papers at the conference. ◾ Potential rising scholars that will likely NOT be considered include: 1️⃣ impoverished older individuals who have had to work many years in order to be able to financially support themselves later on in life to pursue a PhD; 2️⃣ individual academics who have only been able to start wider academic publishing later on in life; 3️⃣ older females who have had to raise children young and have had to begin their academic career later on in life; 4️⃣ older individuals who have decided to switch careers later in life and have only later been able to start developing their academic career; and 5️⃣ older individuals who only decided to pursue a PhD later on in life. LINK 🔹 OFR: https://lnkd.in/eii4iYBm. To receive notifications of new posts please follow #Storm7Consulting on LinkedIn: https://lnkd.in/e7wEZwBn. Thanks.

#Storm7Consulting #US #crypto #DeFi #banking #regulation SPEECH SUMMARY: Christopher J Waller, "Centralized and Decentralized Finance: Substitutes or Complements?", The Vienna Macroeconomics Workshop Institute of Advanced Studies, Vienna, Austria, 18 October 2024. KEY POINTS ◾ Mr Waller, a Member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, addresses the question of whether centralised finance (CeFi) and decentralised finance (DeFi) are substitutes or complement each other. ◾ Mr Waller first sets out the history of CeFi and its key characteristics such as the value of intermediation, along with key issues such as: 1️⃣ transaction costs; 2️⃣ the "principal-agent" problem; 3️⃣ asset custody arrangements; and 4️⃣ record keeping arrangements. ◾ The implication is that CeFi is predicated on intermediation and trust, and these are what provides CeFi with value. ◾ Developments in DeFi utilise new innovations and technologies to address the same underlying components of CeFi, such as trust, privacy, control of assets (private keys), and record keeping (distributed ledger). ◾ The main point made by Mr Waller is that the emergence of new DeFi technologies might appear, on the surface, to look as if DeFi is going to replace CeFi (i.e., substitute). ◾ However, in actuality, there are many other emerging uses arising from DeFi that look more like complements to CeFi, such as smart contracts, stablecoins, and tokenization. ◾ The overall conclusion reached by Mr Waller is "While there are certain services emerging through defi that cannot be provided by centralized finance, the technological innovations stemming from defi are largely complementary to centralized finance." LINKS 🔹 Speech: https://lnkd.in/gB2pcDRh. 🔹 Speech (PDF): https://lnkd.in/eXaPTTTV. To receive notifications of new posts please follow #Storm7Consulting on LinkedIn: https://lnkd.in/e7wEZwBn. Thanks.

#Storm7Consulting #UK #FCA #regulation #financialmarkets #financialservices #economicgrowth #exports #productivity A literature review of regulation and growth conducted by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), summarises the current evidence base that connects financial services regulation to economic growth in the United Kingdom (UK). KEY POINTS ◾ There is no universal agreement on exactly how financial services regulation might best support growth. ◾ The FCA literature review seeks to address what is known about the connections between financial services regulation and economic growth. ◾ The literature review focuses on three key routes to support growth in the UK which are: 1️⃣ increasing EXPORTS by enhancing the international competitiveness of financial services; 2️⃣ increasing the PRODUCTIVITY of the UK financial services sector; and 3️⃣ supporting broader ECONOMIC GROWTH in the real economy by delivering high-quality and value-driven services, investment, and oversight to where they are most needed. ◾ The literature review addresses some interesting questions. For example, in relation to the competitiveness of the UK financial services sector (FSS), questions include those listed below. 1️⃣ How do regulatory systems compete? Is the UK ahead or behind the pack? 2️⃣ What aspects of regulation shape the UK FSS' international competitiveness? 3️⃣ What can 'agglomeration theory' tell us about how to make the UK's FSS more attractive? 4️⃣ How has the competitiveness of the UK's FSS evolved by sector since the global financial crisis (GFC)? 5️⃣ What steps can promote the adoption of new technologies by firms in the UK's international FSS? ◾ For those involved in the fields of banking, financial services, financial regulation, and regulatory compliance, the literature review is definitely worth taking a look at. LINKS 🔹 FCA Improving Our Understanding: https://lnkd.in/eV9dwkSF. 🔹 FCA The Growth Gap: https://lnkd.in/ewdwx7Hs. To receive notifications of new posts please follow #Storm7Consulting on LinkedIn: https://lnkd.in/e7wEZwBn. Thanks.

#Storm7Consulting #FT #UK #crypto #cryptoinvestments #tokenisation #property #realestate Nikou Asgari, "Crypto has designs on real estate", Financial Times (FT) (18.10.24). An article in the FT questions whether buying blockchain-listed 'slices' of properties can ever become mainstream. KEY POINTS ◾ The article provides a very basic introduction to tokenised property investing for those who may be potentially interested in expanding their investment activities in the future. ◾ Tokenisation of real world assets (RWAs), such as physical properties, typically results in digital tokens situated on a blockchain that represent ownership of physical properties. ◾ This is referred to as property tokenisation, which results in tokenised property in the United Kingdom (UK), or "tokenized real estate" in the United States (US). ◾ The idea is that individual private investors can invest in different properties rather than buying a property to rent out (i.e., buy-to-let investment), or investing in REITs (real estate investment trusts). ◾ In this way, investors can build up their property portfolio of investments over time and in line with their available finances. It would seem to offer a lower investment threshold for investors to get their foot in the door. ◾ There are many new property tokenisation companies such as HouseBit, Lofty, and RealT, that are operating on the market today. The article identifies a number of issues and problems that have arisen in practice: 1️⃣ issues with evictions, maintenance problems, and rent arrears; 2️⃣ general investment problems in certain states (e.g., Chicago); 3️⃣ unsteady cash flows; 4️⃣ investor contributions to "operating reserves" (dedicated communal property maintenance funds); 5️⃣ lack of secondary market buyers (i.e., token liquidity problems); 6️⃣ potential money laundering issues; 7️⃣ reliability of customer checks issues; and 8️⃣ ongoing US crypto regulatory compliance actions. ◾ Asgari concludes that whether or not property tokenisation takes off or not depends partly on whether investors can shake off the stigma still attached to blockchain and tokens. ◾ This is a very simplistic take on what is actually a highly complex and multifacted area that exists in the US at both local state and Federal law levels. LINK 🔹 FT: https://lnkd.in/eTisVUWn. To receive notifications of new posts please follow #Storm7Consulting on LinkedIn: https://lnkd.in/e7wEZwBn. Thanks.

#Storm7Consulting #UK #jobs #jobadvice #lawfirms #employees A brief article in the Law Society Gazette sets out 5 SIGNS that you are NOT VALUED by your employer. 5 SIGNS 1️⃣ Lack of professional development opportunities. 2️⃣ Overwork without appreciation. 3️⃣ Lack of transparency on pay and career progression. 4️⃣ Your ideas are not taken seriously. 5️⃣ Lack of flexibility and support for work-life balance. ◾ If a firm is investing in you in some way (e.g., mentorship, training, clear career pathway) the firm is committed to your success. No opportunities equates to your company failing to value you and your future success. ◾ Lack of recognition (e.g., additional support, fair pay, praise) is a warning sign. If this is expected you should be compensated, if not, you may not be fully appreciated. You may need to take action otherwise nothing will happen to change the status quo. ◾ Firms that value employees are transparent about bonuses, opportunities, pay reviews, and promotion. Lack of transparency equates to lack of value, it's as simple as that. ◾ If you have seen the first episode of "Sweetpea", you will know exactly what your ideas not being taken seriously means. If you believe your ideas or suggestions are valid but they are still being consistently dismissed or overlooked, this may indicate a lack of recognition of your contributions to the firm. ◾ Lack of flexibility and support for a work-life balance is not so simple. Just because a firm is not able to be flexible may not always mean that you are not valued. You may need to drill down on the reasons why and whether this lack of flexibility and support applies only to you, or in general within the firm. LINKS ◾ The Law Society Gazette: https://lnkd.in/eb7VKqjY. ◾ Sweetpea (IMDB): https://lnkd.in/eFEVebu3. To receive notifications of new posts please follow #Storm7Consulting on LinkedIn: https://lnkd.in/e7wEZwBn. Thanks.

#Storm7Consulting #BIS #regulation #financialmarkets #CCPs #centralcounterparties #ccpclearing #riskmanagement #systemicrisk Matteo Aquilina, Martin Scheicher, Andreas Schrimpf, 'Central clearing in government bond markets: keeping the "safe asset" safe?' (2024) BIS Bulletin, No 92, 19 September, 1-6. KEY POINTS ◾ Central counterparties (CCPs) are financial market infrastructures (FMIs) that take over the management of risk between market counterparties in financial markets. ◾ The Group of Twenty (G20) market reforms sought to implement new market frameworks that pushed the clearing of many bilateral over-the-counter (OTC) counterparty derivatives trades onto CCPs, with a view to avoiding systemic risk. ◾ In this article the authors contend that increasing the volume of government bonds and repurchase agreements (repos) cleared by CCPs in the United States (US) would not fully eliminate financial market risks, but would instead change their nature. ◾ The three key takeways identified in the article are: 1️⃣ government bond trading is typically OTC, dealers play key roles as intermediaries, and so pressure on intermediation capacity is set to increase as governement debt continues to grow; 2️⃣ enhancing the volume of CCP transactions could help mitigate risks to market functioning by freeing up dealers' balance sheets and encouraging all-to-all trading; and 3️⃣ the need for liquidity management will remain, fixing the "plumbing" alone may have limited impact in a market-wide deleveraging episode with one-sided flows. ◾ As a result, it is concluded that CCP clearing of goverment bonds and repos would not fully eliminate financial market risks but would change their nature. ◾ Unfortunately, the article is very short, it is not very well supported in terms of extensive supporting literature references, and most importantly, it fails to identify a number of highly significant issues that constrain any wider general applicability of the analysis to other non-US markets. ◾ The contentions made by the authors cannot and should not be applied to CCP clearing in other non-US markets. ◾ Overall, this is not an article that can be relied upon to effectively support the contentions made by the authors. LINKS 🔹 BIS: https://lnkd.in/eb-YUtGU. 🔹 BIS Article (PDF): https://lnkd.in/ed6Ydupf. 🔹 FOW: https://lnkd.in/euKDjzTv. 🔹 FT: https://lnkd.in/eEyGx586. To receive notifications of new posts please follow #Storm7Consulting on LinkedIn: https://lnkd.in/e7wEZwBn. Thanks.

#Storm7Consulting #UK #taxation #policies #nondomiciled #nondoms Wealthy non-domiciled (non-doms) lobby the United Kingdom (UK) government for an Italian-style tax regime. KEY POINTS ◾ Wealthy foreigners, their advisers, and foreign investor lobbyists are urging chancellor Rachel Reeves to replace the non-dom regime in the UK with a system that is modelled on the Italian flat taxation rate system. ◾ The Italian non-dom tax regime was introduced in the Italian 2017 Budget Law (Law no. 232/2016). ◾ In effect, individuals who are tax residents in Italy are able to elect to NOT include any personal income that is generated overseas in their personal income tax. Instead, such individuals will be subject to a substitute tax set at a flat rate of €100,000 per annum (paid in a lump sum). ◾ The Italian scheme seeks to: 1️⃣ attract higher numbers of high net worth individuals (HNWIs) to reside in Italy; 2️⃣ increase the total taxation received by the Italian tax authorities; and 3️⃣ simplify taxation regimes for the wealthy and HNWIs. ◾ The idea is that because the scheme is comparatively attractive, it is likely to lead to higher overall levels of tax compliance, as opposed to existing high levels of tax evasion and tax avoidance. ◾ In the proposed tax regime for the UK, non-doms would be exempt from inheritance tax in the UK, and they would also be free from UK tax on foreign income, gains, and qualified investments for up to 15 years. ◾ In return, non-doms would pay a tiered annual charge tied to their existing net wealth (NW), namely: 1️⃣ £200,000 (up to £100 million NW); 2️⃣ £500,000 (£100 million - £250 million NW); 3️⃣ £1 million (£250 million - £500 million NW); 4️⃣ £2 million (over £500 million NW). ◾ HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) estimates a combined total of at least 83,800 non-domiciled and deemed domiciled taxpayers with combined tax and National Insurance Contributions (NICs) liabilities of £12.3 billion. ◾ For the tax year ending 2023 revenue from non-domiciled taxpayers was £8.9 billion. ◾ In the election, the Labour policy on non-doms was the party's flagship policy, which was later stolen by the Conservatives. The abolition of non-dom status was expected to raise between £1 to £2.7 billion of extra tax.  ◾ The Labour Party manifesto states "The Labour Party delivers for working people." The Labour Party saved an estimated £1.4 billion per year by withdrawing winter fuel payments for pensioners. ◾ If the Labour Party now goes back on its vociferous election pledges and dilutes non-dom reforms thereby privileging the wealthy and HNWIs above the working people, Keir Starmer's "two-tier Kier" reputation in the eyes of the public will very likely be expanded and further solidified. LINK 🔹 FIFB: https://lnkd.in/eF3RXYgR. 🔹 FT: https://lnkd.in/eBFqjEYy. To receive notifications of new posts please follow #Storm7Consulting on LinkedIn: https://lnkd.in/e7wEZwBn. Thanks