ICMA Future Leaders (IFL) launched a Fintech working group earlier in 2021 to look into developments in Fintech including digital assets, blockchain transactions in capital markets, the evolution of securities technology, among others, to support ICMA’s overall role in this fast evolving area. As part of the IFL working group’s activities, it has organised a series of podcasts with market experts focusing on digital ledger technology or DLT.In this first episode, IFL’s Alexander Tollast and Alastria's Juan Jimenez Zaballos discuss the potential advantages of using DLT in the capital markets, as well as the challenges to be overcome for a fully-fledged market for digital securities to develop.

Robert Parker, Chair of ICMA’s Asset Management and Investors Council, reviews key themes for investors in 2022 including the inflation and growth outlook, potential monetary policy divergences, and geopolitical risks.

ICMA’s President Martin Scheck speaks to David Reznik, Fixed Income Strategist at Bank Leumi, Israeli’s largest bank, about its market activities and more generally about the Israeli capital market and its market infrastructure. David discusses the main issuers, local bond practices, the main investors of Israeli debt and also provides his insights on efforts being made in the field of sustainable finance and the overall outlook for the market.

Robert Parker, Chair of ICMA’s Asset Management and Investors Council, reviews the market events of the past weeks, including the inflation  outlook, the Chinese economic slowdown and main takeaways for investors following the COP26.

The end of 2021 is a key and long-awaited milestone in the LIBOR transition process. As this important date approaches, this ICMA webinar will take stock of progress in the adoption of alternative risk-free rates in the bond market and active transition of legacy bonds; consider the various legislative solutions designed to address the issue of “tough legacy” bonds; and discuss how LIBOR transition is progressing in Asia Pacific.

Speakers include:

Paul Richards, Managing Director, Head of Market Practice & Regulatory Policy, ICMA

Katie Kelly, Senior Director, Market Practice & Regulatory Policy, ICMA

Charlotte Bellamy, Senior Director, Market Practice & Regulatory Policy, ICMA

Mushtaq Kapasi, Managing Director, Chief Representative, Asia-Pacific, ICMA

Robert Parker, Chair of ICMA’s Asset Management and Investors Council, reviews the market events of the past weeks, including rising inflation, the corporate earnings season, the growth outlook in China, and the upcoming central bank meetings.

In advance of COP26, ICMA’s Nicholas Pfaff moderates a high-level discussion on Climate Transition Finance outlining the key issues and also introducing Japan’s regional guidance based on the Climate Transition Finance Handbook. Featuring contributions from Chris Iggo, Chief Investment Officer, AXA IM Core; Ketish Pothalingam, Executive VP, Portfolio Manager, PIMCO; and  Motoko Ogawa, Deputy Director of Environmental Economy Office, Industrial Science and Technology Policy and Environmental Bureau, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) of Japan.

The UK Government and authorities issued a flurry of consultations impacting primary bond market regulation this summer. In this podcast, ICMA’s Ruari Ewing and Charlotte Bellamy discuss the consultations and ICMA members’ key concerns in this area.

ICMA’s President Martin Scheck speaks to Leslie Maasdorp, Vice President & Chief Financial Officer of the New Development Bank, about the rationale and purpose behind the bank, its funding model and governance structure and their focus on infrastructure and sustainable development projects in the BRICS countries and other emerging economies. Leslie also discusses the NDB’s overall environmental, social and sustainability goals, along with their pandemic support and sustainable bond issue.

Robert Parker, Chair of ICMA’s Asset Management and Investors Council, reviews the market events of the past weeks, including the Evergrande debt situation and potential contagion risk, the Fed economic outlook and review of their monetary policy guidance, as well as the German election results.