The challenging and unprecedented operating conditions that Financial Services (FS) firms have faced for the last few years look set to continue in 2024. Although inflation is cooling and increases in interest rates have slowed, both of those factors continue to weigh on the economy. Considerable economic uncertainty persists, and financial and non-financial risks remain elevate.
Navigating these choppy waters will likely be front of mind for FS executives in the near term. Yet at the same time, the drivers of medium-term term structural change in FS – such as geopolitics (and how they will be affected by elections taking place in several major jurisdictions), sustainability and technological innovation – are no less relevant and will remain close to the top of Boards’ and Senior Executives’ agendas.