Summary
The financial world is in a state of flux. How can financial institutions navigate the shifting sands of geopolitical developments and trade flows? What are the strategies that UK and other international financial centres are adopting to promote economic growth? What is the outlook for the global economy and how will it impact your company? Regulatory regimes are evolving – what does the trend towards ‘smart regulation’ mean in practice and what are the trade-offs involved? What are the consequences of the reset in U.S. financial services regulation for the rest of the world? And how are today’s powerful crosscurrents reshaping the landscape of climate finance?
Agenda
Here's what's scheduled for the event. All times are in BST.
| Monday, May 18, 2026 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 8:30 AM | Registration, networking and morning coffee | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 8:50 AM | Conference introduction | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 8:55 AM | Chair’s opening remarks | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 9:05 AM | Opening Keynote | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 9:10 AM | Enhancing the UK’s role as a global venue for international financial services | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 9:25 AM | Panel Navigating the shifting sands of geopolitical developments and trade flows Impact of US-China tensions on global trade routes and financial market integration - The rise of economic nationalism and tariffs and their implications for cross-border capital flows - Emerging trade corridors: Africa-Asia, Middle East-Europe, and Latin America connections - How geopolitical fragmentation is reshaping supply chains and investment strategies - The role of financial centres in facilitating trade finance amid political uncertainty - Sanctions regimes and their effect on international banking and payment systems - Opportunities for neutral financial hubs to bridge divided economic blocs - Managing currency volatility in an increasingly fragmented global economy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10:00 AM | Keynote address Outlook for the global economy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10:15 AM | Panel Competition vs. collaboration between global financial centres to create economic growth Comparative advantages of financial hubs - How regulatory frameworks and tax policies influence competitiveness - The balance between attracting business and maintaining robust regulatory standards - Collaborative initiatives: cross-border listings, mutual recognition agreements, and data sharing - The role of time zones and geographic positioning in serving global markets - Talent mobility and immigration policies as competitive differentiators - Infrastructure investment and technology adoption in different financial centres - Can competition drive innovation while collaboration ensures systemic stability? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10:50 AM | Networking and morning coffee | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 11:20 AM | Fireside chat Towards smart regulation: getting the balance right between risk and growth | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 11:35 AM | Panel The US regulatory reset: implications for global financial services Overview of anticipated regulatory changes under the current US administration - Potential rollback or revision of Dodd-Frank provisions and capital requirements - Impact on international banks operating in the US market - Changes to securities regulation and their effect on capital raising and IPOs -The future of crypto regulation in the US and global spillover effects - How US regulatory shifts influence global regulatory convergence or divergence - Opportunities for non-US financial centres to attract business amid US policy changes - Managing compliance complexity for institutions operating across multiple jurisdictions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12:10 PM | Panel The future of climate finance: navigating the crosscurrents Climate change as a financial risk to the financial services industry - How should financial institutions manage their physical and transition risks? – Identifying and quantifying the economic impact of climate change on investment and loan portfolios - The latest developments in global and national regulation - Best practice disclosure - Reputational risks and opportunities – Impact of the anti-ESG movement and cost-of-living crisis on public and political priorities on net zero - Should fossil fuel extraction still be financed? - Which other activities should or should not be financed and why? - How should financial institutions navigate these powerful crosscurrents? - Is climate risk a systemic risk? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12:45 PM | Networking and lunch Themed lunch areas:
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Join us at City Week 2026
Join industry leaders and innovators at City Week 2026, where cutting-edge insights, networking opportunities, and transformative ideas await!
