Providers of prime brokerage services appear relatively upbeat at the moment. Is their optimism justified? Richard Schwartz reports. 

The fund administration space continues to be a key breeding ground for M&A activity – driven by the need for scale, tech investment and global reach. As providers race to keep pace with increasingly complex demands and requirements, consolidation has become a strategic necessity.

The GENIUS Act has passed in the US, creating a federal regulatory framework for stablecoins. Global Custodian explores how this moment provides clarity for the securities services industry and how it could further pave the way for the digital future for custodians.

Following a similar issue with the US move to T+1, the second iteration of Thursday conundrum for ETFs trades has emerged as divergent settlement systems around the globe continue to cause headaches for traders.  

A long-anticipated decision from the SEC on ETF share class structures is expected imminently – an inflection point that industry experts believe could trigger the next major wave of growth in the global market.  

The Middle East is no longer just a rising market – it's a melting pot of opportunity for custodians, with sovereign wealth funds managing trillions, capital markets booming and economic diversification in motion. From record-breaking IPOs to a surge in alternative investments, Sophia Thomson examines how the custody industry is evolving in the region – and why success depends on tailor-made solutions and lasting relationships built on trust.

As the new US administration takes bold steps to reshape the regulatory landscape for digital assets, the financial services industry sits poised for transformative change.

Digitalisation, shorter settlement cycles, a renewed focus on geopolitical risks and the emergence of new asset classes will be among some of the biggest changes shaping global custody over the next decade.

The fund administration sector has been an irresistible lure for private equity investors over the last decade. Here’s why.

A disparate and fragmented European Union is thwarting the continent’s ability to compete effectively with the largest markets in the world. But a new political impetus has reinvigorated the consolidation agenda, with a view to challenging national frameworks and bringing growth back to the region.

Prime brokerage is a business driven by growth in its client base, and in 2024, players of all shapes and sizes are reaping the rewards of navigating an eventful few years to post record numbers off the back of positive trends in the hedge fund space, writes Jonathan Watkins.

The private funds industry is now just six months away from the implementation of sweeping Form PF amendments – described as the ‘most material change to alternative investment reporting in the US in more than a decade’.

AI promises to enhance efficiency and accuracy in routine processes, while also providing deeper insights through advanced analytics. This technology could elevate the operational standards of fund administrators to new heights. However, like any major technological shift, integrating AI into fund administration comes with its own set of challenges and risks.

Retail investors and defined contribution schemes (DCs) are looking for juicier returns, just as private market managers – having raised huge amounts of money from institutions over the last decade – are now trying to diversify their client base. Global Custodian looks at whether retailisation of private markets is actually happening, and what this means for the industry’s operating model, and the fund administrators which support it.

Global Custodian speaks with Fearghal Woods, global head of ETF product at JP Morgan, to discuss the fast-moving ETF market and how the custodian is setting out its stall to become a leading servicer in the space.