Archives: Podcasts

  • Converge Market Update: FX in the Greenback’s shadow

    2024 has so far been about US soft data surprising the consensus to the upside and investors paring back their expectations for rate cuts across the developed world. Naturally, this has led both government bond yields and the US dollar higher. However, the low volatility rate in the FX space means that while the Greenback…

  • A leap forward for humanitarian aid: Improving global disbursements through blockchain with Stellar

    The disbursement of humanitarian aid has been a historical challenge for many organizations aiming to provide relief around the globe. The Stellar Development Foundation’s Aid Assist program is aiming to change that. Powered by the Stellar blockchain, Stellar is on a mission to democratize access to financial services, with the goal of revolutionizing how humanitarian…

  • Converge Market Update: Low volatility amid policy ambiguity

    Global investors have become comfortable pricing in the eventual turn of the global monetary policy cycle to a more accommodative stance. However, the big macro theme in early 2024 has been the paring of G3 policy easing bets against the backdrop of somewhat rebounding inflation rates. This has led to a rebound in bond yields…

  • The Fintech Effect: Plaid on the state of the industry, AI, Pay by Bank, financial inclusion and consumer confidence

    This week, we sat down with Raja Chakravorti, Head of Universal Access at Plaid, to broadly discuss the state of the fintech industry in 2024 and the evolving consumer attitudes that are shaping it. Why has fintech become so ubiquitous and where is it headed in 2024? How has the definition of fintech evolved over…

  • Converge Market Update: A March towards disinflation, rate cuts and policy shifts?

    March will be an interesting month in financial markets, driven by three major themes: inflation, paring back of interest rate cut expectations, and the lack of volatility despite underlying risks. Upcoming events in March, including central bank rate decisions, will be significant and could induce price action.

  • 1% built: Opportunities and challenges in building Africa’s payment infrastructures

    Payments in Africa are “1% built,” presenting a massive opportunity to unlock growth for businesses and improve lives – not just on the continent itself but also around the globe where migrants proliferate and prosper. Join Benjamin Fernandes, CEO of Nala, a cross-border payments and remittances fintech focusing on building Africa’s modern payment infrastructure, to…