The global financial services sector experienced a powerful resurgence in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity in 2025, with total disclosed deal value rising 49% year-on-year (YoY), driven by a sharp increase in large-scale transactions. According to the latest EY Financial Services M&A analysis, banks, insurers, and asset managers worldwide announced or completed 2,236 deals during the year, marginally higher than the 2,219
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UniCredit and the European Investment Fund (EIF), part of the EIB Group, have signed a new InvestEU guarantee agreement designed to significantly scale up financing for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). The €445 million facility is expected to unlock up to €890 million in new lending, strengthening access to capital in a region where SMEs play
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Banks operating in Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe (CESEE) report increasingly positive trends in credit demand and lending conditions, according to the latest CESEE Bank Lending Survey by the European Investment Bank (EIB). While demand for credit remains strong—particularly from companies—banks also expect a modest improvement in credit supply following a period of contraction, suggesting a gradual rebalancing of regional credit markets.
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Greece tapped international capital markets for the first time in 2026, issuing a new 10-year sovereign bond maturing in January 2036, in a move that underlined renewed investor confidence in the country’s credit profile. The issuance raised €4 billion, exceeding the initial target of €3 billion, amid exceptionally strong demand, with total bids surpassing €45 billion. Borrowing costs have fallen sharply since
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Commodities are poised for attractive returns in 2026, supported by tightening supply-demand dynamics, elevated geopolitical uncertainty, and long-term structural shifts such as the global energy transition. According to forecasts from UBS, commodities are expected to play a more prominent role in diversified portfolios, particularly as traditional asset classes face valuation and macroeconomic challenges. UBS analysts highlight industrial metals as one of the
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Switzerland has officially entered a new phase of open finance with the launch of multibanking for private individuals. Customers of eight Swiss banks and two third-party providers can now connect multiple bank accounts and view consolidated financial information within a single application. More than 30 banks already provide the required data interfaces, enabling a seamless and secure exchange of account information. Through
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Lunate, the Abu Dhabi–based global investment management firm, has unveiled the Boreas range of thematic and specialty Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), marking a milestone in the regional asset management landscape. The series launches with the Boreas Solactive Quantum Computing UCITS ETF, offering investors access to one of the most transformative technologies of the future. The new ETF is managed by Lunate Capital
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Saudi Arabia’s Capital Market Authority (CMA) has unveiled draft rules that would allow licensed financial institutions to offer robo-advisory services, marking a major step in the kingdom’s ongoing drive to modernize its financial sector and broaden investment options for retail and institutional investors alike. The CMA said on Tuesday it is inviting public feedback on the proposed regulations, with a consultation period
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A new survey of 1,000 recent U.S. homebuyers reveals a concerning trend: younger buyers are making risky financial bets on their ability to refinance in the future. Nearly two-thirds of Gen Z (64%) and Millennial buyers (65%) say refinancing their mortgage is important to their financial health — double the rate of Baby Boomer buyers (32%). The Truework 2025 Recent Homebuyer Report,
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The African Credit Rating Agency (AfCRA), a privately owned financial rating body, is expected to begin operations by September 2025. The new agency will provide credit ratings tailored to the continent’s specific needs, addressing long-standing concerns about the methodologies employed by major international rating firms. AfCRA will focus on local currency debt issued by African governments, financial institutions, and corporates. To safeguard
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