Sponsored by ION MarketsOur road trip to the 49th annual International Futures Industry Conference has come to an end. But before we said goodbye to Boca, we touched base with Rohit Bhat, Managing Director, Capital Markets, Digital Assets, & Exchanges at Google Cloud. With cloud technology and artificial intelligence at the center of countless conversations this week, Bhat was the perfect closing guest to help us understand what the cloud can do in capital markets and separate the signal from the noise when it comes to the hype surrounding AI. We also had a little bit of fun hearing what 'Rohit's Cloud' ... aka Cloud 3.0 ... will feature and how soon it might become a reality. Sign up for the FIA SmartBrief newsletter.Sign up for Modern Money SmartBriefFollow this show on Twitter @ModernMoneyPod

Sponsored by ION MarketsWith Bitcoin soaring to new heights, the 49th annual International Futures Industyr Conference is the perfect time to check in with CoinFund President Chris Perkins. In this wide-ranging conversation, Perkins shares his insights about cryptocurrency trends and other exciting developments in decentralized finance. Perkins also explains the essentials of CoinFund's CESR periodic rate, which measures the average annualized yield awarded to all eligible validators staking ether on the Ethereum blockchain. And finally ... Perkins shares breaking news about the completion of the first fixed-floating swap using CESR.Sign up for the FIA SmartBrief newsletter.Sign up for Modern Money SmartBriefFollow this show on Twitter @ModernMoneyPod

Sponsored by ION MarketsShawn Creighton, director of index derivatives solutions at FTSE Russell, joins the show at the 49th annual International Futures Industry Conference to discuss what's happening on the ground in Boca. Creighton outlines trends in fixed income index trading, growth in digital assets and how conversations about sustainability and carbon trading differ in various regions around the world. Creighton also weighs in on the expansion of zero days to expiration (0DTE) options trading in the US, and how markets in EMEA and APAC are watching and learning from what happens in the US.Remarkably ... Creighton manages to avoid talking about AI!Sign up for the FIA SmartBrief newsletter.Sign up for Modern Money SmartBriefFollow this show on Twitter @ModernMoneyPod

Sponsored by ION MarketsIt's no surprise that an industry veteran like Chris Edmonds, president of fixed income and data services at Intercontinental Exchange, would have a few insightful (and entertaining) thoughts to share about the buzz surrounding artificial intelligence. This chat with Edmonds at the 49th annual International Futures Industry Conference features his view on where AI fits in the long history of advancements in humans' ability to compute at greater speed. Edmonds reflects on what happens when he asks people to define 'artificial intelligence' and he also sneaks in a great reference to the 1980s film "War Games" to explain how trust can go wrong when it comes to AI. How does this all relate to data trends in capital markets? Tune in and let Edmonds explain.Sign up for the FIA SmartBrief newsletter.Sign up for Modern Money SmartBriefFollow this show on Twitter @ModernMoneyPod

Sponsored by ION MarketsIf you are going to talk about cloud technology and capital markets, sooner or later you are going to end up talking about artificial intelligence. This interview from our road trip to the 49th annual International Futures Industry Conference features Magnus Haglind, SVP and head of products, marketplace technology at Nasdaq. Haglind outlines the current 'State of Play' regarding how the cloud is being utilized in capital markets and what lies ahead as firms leverage the cloud to expand their AI capabilities. If you want to learn more about how cloud technology is being put to use in markets, register to attend the following webinar on March 20, 2024:What's Next: How Firms Are Future-Proofing Operations Via The Cloud, presented by Nasdaq with Amazon Web ServicesSign up for the FIA SmartBrief newsletter.Sign up for Modern Money SmartBriefFollow this show on Twitter @ModernMoneyPod

Sponsored by ION MarketsOur road trip to the 49th annual International Futures Industry Conference continues as we hear from Ivan Han, deputy chief risk officer at SGX. While the market landscape in China is uncertain at the moment, India is catching the eye of investors and Japan is resurgent. Han explains how enhanced access to markets in Asia is helping investors manage risk within the region and around the world. Sign up for the FIA SmartBrief newsletter.Sign up for Modern Money SmartBriefFollow this show on Twitter @ModernMoneyPod

With the 49th annual International Futures Industry Conference getting underway today in Boca Raton, Florida, Futures Industry Association President and CEO Walt Lukken joins the show to offer a peek at what to anticipate at this year's gathering. Lukken previews some of the key issues that are bound to be hot topics in Boca, including US Treasury clearing, the Basel III endgame proposal and work the FIA is doing to help advance standards and modernize markets. Lukken also highlights panel sessions that he thinks will be popular among attendees, such as the 'Moneyball' session focused on what the sports world has learned from financial markets.Sign up for the daily FIA SmartBrief newsletter.Sign up for Modern Money SmartBriefFollow this show on Twitter @ModernMoneyPod

The digital transformation of financial markets has spawned incredible connectivity and efficiency, but it has also created plenty of challenges. Roland Chai, executive vice president for market technology at Nasdaq, joins the show to outline how new technologies are enhancing market resiliency -- even in the face of extreme volatility events like interest rate moves, wars, bank failures, the GameStop frenzy and the pandemic.Roland explains how investors are leveraging algorithmic trading and other technologies to manage risk in globally connected markets and he also delves into numerous other areas where Nasdaq is expanding its suite of offerings, including cryptocurrency custody and the tokenization of carbon credits. And, of course … you can’t talk about technology these days without talking about artificial intelligence, so Roland covers that ground as well.Key highlightsThe impact of digitalization on markets in recent years - (5:28)Maintaining market resiliency through extreme volatility events - (9:26)How the speed of news and other information is reshaping markets - (11:02)Should the use of circuit breakers be expanded? - (13:33)Challenges presented by digital transformation - (17:43)Artificial intelligence in markets - (20:14)The people behind trading algorithms -  (24:17)Areas where Nasdaq is expanding its footprint - (26:41)Sign up for Modern Money SmartBriefFollow this show on Twitter @ModernMoneyPod

Our third  and final day of coverage of the International Futures Industry Conference … aka ... FIA Boca.And since we are closing the book on yet another Boca, we decided to continue what has become a fun tradition for this podcast when we road trip to Futures Industry Association events. We invited FIA President and CEO Walt Lukken onto the show to wrap things up and hear his thoughts on everything that was seen and heard throughout the week. Walt always does a great job of hosting FIA Boca, so we promise you’ll enjoy his insights. Sign up for Modern Money SmartBriefFollow this show on Twitter @ModernMoneyPod

We're back for another day of coverage from the International Futures Industry Conference … or as it’s more commonly known: FIA Boca.Day 2 just wrapped up, so here's a quick recap of some of the highlights:CFTC Chairman Rostin Behnam delivered his keynote address, during which he lauded the resiliency of global markets as they've navigated numerous crises in recent years.CoinFund President Chris Perkins joined the show for a 1-on-1 conversation about the impact the recent banking crisis has had on the startup sector and what lies ahead for digital assets. The annual panel of regulators tackled questioned related to the LME nickel situation, FTX and the overall cryptocurrency landscape.Representatives from the crypto industry weighed in with their thoughts on what the future looks like for the sector.CoinFund President Chris Perkins joined the show of a 1-on-1 conversation about the impact the recent banking crisis has had on the startup sector and what lies ahead for digital assets. Sign up for Modern Money SmartBriefFollow this show on Twitter @ModernMoneyPod

It’s March ... so that means it’s time for another Road Trip! This episode comes to you from sunny Boca Raton, Florida, where we’re excited to bring you our second year of coverage from the International Futures Industry Conference … or as it’s more commonly known: FIA Boca.The first day’s events just wrapped up, so here’s a quick recap of what went down here at the conference. Walt Lukken kicked things off with a recap of what has been an eventful year for the industry. In what is an annual tradition here at Boca, the leaders of some of the largest exchanges in the world took the stage for a panel discussion about news and trends that are shaping the industry.A one-on-one conversation with CFTC Commissioner Summer Mersinger to hear her insights on the hot topics at Boca.Sign up for Modern Money SmartBriefFollow this show on Twitter @ModernMoneyPod

When cloud technology was first introduced in markets, many people in the financial services sector were hesitant. There were concerns about security and even questions about overall use cases. Well, it is safe to say that things have changed. Today, the cloud is being used by finance pros in ways that would have been hard to imagine just a few short years ago.Joining me today to provide an update on the current cloud landscape in financial services is Rohit Bhat from Google Cloud. Rohit leads Google Cloud’s efforts in Capital Markets, Digital Assets, and Exchanges in North America. His focus areas include technology enablers for accelerated quantitative research, pattern and anomaly detection, market data distribution, and insights-based risk and underwriting.Rohit shares his insights about how the cloud is helping finance firms tackle all manner of tasks right now, but he also shares his view on what the future of the cloud might look like. Advancements in things like machine learning and artificial intelligence mean there are a lot of incredible capabilities on the way. More resourcesLearn more about Google Cloud for Capital Markets Check out the whitepaper: Building the financial markets foundation for the future from Google CloudION Automation positively transforms the lives of people and business.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Sign up for Modern Money SmartBriefFollow this show on Twitter @ModernMoneyPod

The rise of ESG investing has investors clamoring for accurate and transparent data. Larry Lawrence, Head of Sustainable Finance - US at IntercontinentalExchange (ICE), outlines the crucial role data plays in the ecosystem of sustainable finance.  Public companies have ginormous reporting obligations, so Larry and the team at ICE help organizations sort through seemingly endless reams of data to satisfy stakeholder expectations and regulatory expectations associated with ESG investing.So when you hear a company announce a bold net-zero commitment, chances are that company is relying on someone like Larry to help navigate the maze of data needed to report progress on those goals. But ICE doesn’t just serve the needs of big companies with household names. When a small company – or maybe even one of the many oh-so-hot ClimateTech startups – is considering going public, Larry helps guide those businesses through the complexity of that process. With more than two decades of experience working in sustainable finance, Larry has seen trends come and go. The insights he shares on topics ranging from carbon markets and greenwashing to Know Your Data principles and the individual intricacies of the "E" the "S" and the "G" in ESG are definitely worth a listen.More resourcesUsing climate data to understand the greenhouse gas emissions reporting landscapeMFS Investment Management Do more than survive. See how we strive to make the most of changing bond markets.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Sign up for Modern Money SmartBriefFollow this show on Twitter @ModernMoneyPod

If you're a business leader looking to offset the emissions from your organization's operations, how exactly do you go about doing that? And in a world where accusations of greenwashing abound, how do you offset your emissions in a transparent and responsible way? Blake Lawrence from Cool Effect joins the show to answer those questions and more. The team at Cool Effect works to use science, expertise and transparency to give organization's the confidence to purchase carbon offsets that will deliver positive results for the world around us. There are all kinds of carbon offsets -- and some of the offsets Blake describes are probably NOT what you think of when you think of carbon offsets.Blake also walks through a primer Cool Effect put together that outlines five questions every person should ask before buying carbon offsets. More resourcesCool Effect ModelSeller's PledgeOffsetting TravelBusiness Offset CalculatorMFS Investment Management Do more than survive. See how we strive to make the most of changing bond markets.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Sign up for Modern Money SmartBriefFollow this show on Twitter @ModernMoneyPod

Some regulators in the world of finance take office during periods of relative market calm. Other regulators ... not so much.When Commissioner Summer Mersinger was sworn in at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission in March of 2022, global markets were still dealing with the shock from Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Throughout the summer, commodities markets felt the impact from geopolitical tensions, an energy crisis and other pressures. And as summer faded into fall, the energy crisis continued and headlines about a crypto winter morphed into headlines about crypto perp walks.Through it all, Commissioner Mersinger has kept her eye on the markets and brought unique insights to the CFTC and the wider regulatory ecosystem. This episode covers a lot of ground as Commissioner Mersinger offers her perspective on topics ranging from crypto and geopolitics to agriculture commodities and renewables. She even draws entertaining (and accurate) parallels between youth soccer tactics and the task of regulating some of the wildest corners of today's financial markets. Enjoy the show!MFS Investment Management Do more than survive. See how we strive to make the most of changing bond markets.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Sign up for Modern Money SmartBriefFollow this show on Twitter @ModernMoneyPod

With the fallout from the meltdown of Sam Bankman-Fried and his FTX empire still unfolding in the markets, exchange leaders and other executives from the cleared derivatives industry gathered in Chicago for the annual FIA Futures & Options Expo.FIA President and CEO Walt Lukken joined the show to talk about what the collapse of FTX might mean for the future of regulation in the digital asset sector. Lukken touted the soundness of properly regulated entities (like FTX's own LedgerX) and marked the 50th anniversary of the launch of financial futures by commenting on how he thinks the industry will continue to evolve.MFS Investment Management Do more than survive. See how we strive to make the most of changing bond markets.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Sign up for Modern Money SmartBriefFollow this show on Twitter @ModernMoneyPod

In 2021, there was roughly $785 billion deployed at the global level for energy transition technologies. And despite questions being asked about ESG strategies, there are still tons of financial firms that are looking to invest in green bonds and other areas of sustainable finance.Luiza Demôro, the Head of Energy Transitions at BloombergNEF, joins the show to discuss a pair of reports that the team at BNEF recently released. One is their annual Power Transition Trends 2022 report and the other is a special look at the state of clean energy funding in emerging markets and developing economies. Demôro also offers her insights on what to expect from COP27 and how the policies discussed in Egypt can reshape energy markets around the world.Demôro explains how banks and other private investors have become  more willing to deploy capital to emerging markets, but they are looking for certain country-specific and project-specific risk criteria to be met before they go all in. Demôro also offers her insights on what to expect from COP27 and how the policies discussed in Egypt can reshape energy markets around the world.MFS Investment Management Do more than survive. See how we strive to make the most of changing bond markets.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Sign up for Modern Money SmartBriefFollow this show on Twitter @ModernMoneyPod

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last year or so, you’ve probably heard about all the money that’s either already been deployed or is on its way toward funding the energy transition.  When there are billions and billions in play, it’s not surprising that groups are coming together to lure capital to not only certain technologies, but also certain geographic regions.  Jane Stricker is the SVP for Energy Transition at the Greater Houston Partnership. She also serves as the Executive Director of the Houston Energy Transition Initiative. Jane and the team at HETI recently released a report from their capital formation working group, which includes some big time banks and investment firms – we’re talking Blackstone, Bank of America, Citigourp, EnCap, JP Morgan and more. The report is all about capital formation and what it will take to turn Houston – yes, Houston, which of course has a long history in oil and gas – into THE destination for climate capital to fund the energy transition. More resourcesHETI's Capital Formation WhitepaperHETI's Energy Transition StrategyLearn more about the H2Houston HubMFS Investment Management Do more than survive. See how we strive to make the most of changing bond markets.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Sign up for Modern Money SmartBriefFollow this show on Twitter @ModernMoneyPod

Tim McCourt, Senior Managing Director and Global Head of Equity and FX Products at CME Group, joins the show to talk about the launch of Event-based contracts. During the initial meme-stock frenzy, there were plenty of nightmare stories about retail investors getting in over their head with derivatives. Designed especially for retail traders, these new Event-based contracts are an easy-to-understand way for individuals to trade on daily up or down price moves in some of the world's most widely quoted benchmark futures markets, including the E-mini S&P 500, E-mini Nasdaq-100, E-mini Dow Jones Industrial Average, E-mini Russell 2000, crude oil, natural gas, gold, silver, copper and Euro FX.Amid all the headlines about the Ethereum "Merge," McCourt also shares some of the details about CME Group's extremely well-timed launch of options on Ether futures.Key highlights3:00 - What are Event-based contracts?5:12 - Solving a headline-grabbing problem6:57 - Which markets do these Event-based contracts cover?10:34 - A well-timed launch of Ether options12:23 - The impact of the Ethereum "Merge" on Ether optionsMore resources Learn more about Event contractsLearn more about CME Group's Ether optionsION Automation positively transforms the lives of people and business.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Sign up for Modern Money SmartBriefFollow this show on Twitter @ModernMoneyPod

Lauren Collins, a partner at Vinson & Elkins, joins the show to explain how the tax incentives in the Inflation Reduction Act stand to not only boost the deployment of renewable energy in the U.S., but also create new tax credit markets that might attract investment funds and retail investors. Collins also highlights one key area of the energy puzzle that the IRA has unfortunately overlooked.Key Highlights3:44 - The most important tax aspects of the bill  - PTC, ITC, Standalone Storage, Bonus credits6:00 - The new technology neutral credit regime and leveling the playing field for smaller players9:09 - Credit flexibility provisions (Direct pay and Transferability)12:20 - Bonus credits and "Stacking" (Domestic Content, Energy Community and Low-Income)17:10 - Prevailing wage provisions19:26 - What about Hydrogen, Nuclear and Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage (CCUS)?23:38 - Making room for Manufacturing, Minerals and Mining tax credits26:15 - Which aspects of the IRA are overhyped?28:21 - A new industry and marketplace for tax credits and tax professionals29:30 - The 'missing piece' in the legislation30:27 - Which aspects of the legislation are flying under the radar? Transmission misses out33:30 - Bold predictions - Credit investment funds enter financial markets ... and so do retail investors!More resources from Vinson & ElkinsRenewable Reboot: A Download on the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 – Clean Energy Tax ProvisionsION Automation positively transforms the lives of people and business.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Sign up for Modern Money SmartBriefFollow this show on Twitter @ModernMoneyPod