Some of the world’s top companies – also including Roche, GE and others – join Swift’s global payment initiative pilot. But whether other “Swift corporates” will be able to go GPI-active remains to be seen.
The recently ratified Trade Facilitation Agreement is intended to reduce the cost of trade 14.3% globally by improving customs procedures. It could inadvertently help cut painful compliance burdens, also.
HSBC’s strategic push to Asia promises explicit investment in transaction banking platforms and lending rates set to undercut existing lenders*, but the shift will be far less substantial than presumed.
Basel III proposals requiring banks to report intra-day liquidity will severely stifle correspondent relationships, but the infrastructure could be valuable to companies.