Converge

This week we're joined by Thomas Mueller and Fatemeh Nikayin, co-founders of Rivero, a SaaS platform focusing on modernizing the most challenging aspects of payment operations (PayOps), including fraud recovery, scheme compliance, and dispute management. We discuss the significant growth that Rivero has experienced in the past year, their focus on providing solutions for card payment operations for issuing banks, the shift towards scam-type fraud and the notable increases in fraud in the non-card payment arena. We also touch on the importance of consumer protection in new instant payment schemes like the European Payments Initiative (EPI). Lastly, we push back on the notion of the AI "cure all" in financial services, emphasizing the importance of humans + machines in finance, and the need to leverage human intelligence for customer service, traceability and predictability.

Global markets have worked through their largest volatility shock so far this year with bravura as the dollar, equities and bond yields are trading like last Monday's historic sell-off never happened. However, some things are unlikely to fully revert back as sentiment seems to have changed materially. Investors will remember the massive unwind of trades that had been popular all throughout 2024 for some time. We see the legacy of the Monday shock from three different perspectives. (1) The Japanese yen has left the downside one way street, that saw USD/JPY appreciate by 23% since 2023. (2) The volatility scare has made investors more comfortable pricing in aggressive rate cuts from the Federal Reserve. (3) Equities will have a more difficult time finding all-time highs over the next few months as the path to a soft landing remains narrow and filled with uncertainty. The second half of the year is likely to display less clear and straight forward trends than the first one.  Join macro analyst Boris Kovacevic as he breaks down this week's market news.

Paymentology CEO Jeff Parker discusses the transformative role of embedded finance in the payment card industry. Discover how customers' engagement with brands is shifting their focus away from traditional finance service providers. Parker explores key innovations like digitalization, mobile wallets, and contactless payments, and explains how payment cards are central to enhancing customer experiences, loyalty, and engagement. He also addresses recent changes in fintech valuations and Paymentology's commitment to expanding financial access and community support.

Central banks are at a crucial turning point going from a global tightening to a easing cycle while trying to engineer a soft landing. Policy makers continue to be unusually data dependent and there is a significant uncertainty band around our inflation and labor market forecast. So the incoming data matters, even in summer. And if you then add the US election on top of that, you get volatility. August will likely be as volatile as July. While we only have two major central bank decisions coming up, the macro data will be important to gauge what central banks will do in September. August's markets will probably be decided in just eight trading days between the 13th and 22nd, when all the data for the United Kingdom will come out, plus the big macro patch from China, European PMIs and wage data plus inflation in the US. On the political front, the democratic convention that will most likely make Kamala Harris the official candidate and the Jackson Hole Symposium organized by the Fed are taking place in this period as well. All of these events promise to keep investors on their toes.   Tune in for this week's market breakdown with macro strategist, Boris Kovacevic.

In this week's episode, Nicole Casperson, founder of Fintech is Femme, and Julie Armstrong, V.P. and Global Head of Verticalized Industry & Partnerships at Convera, share their journeys as women shaping the fintech landscape from the perspectives of Gen Z and Gen X, respectively. Both discuss the incredible resilience and audacity required to navigate and transform an industry that often underestimates women. We discuss Nicole's transition from journalism to championing women in fintech through her platform, driven by a desire to amplify underrepresented voices and foster a community where women can thrive despite systemic challenges. Julie shares her personal evolution from a single-parent household to a leading voice in international finance, emphasizing the importance of mentorship and community. Their stories highlight not only the barriers they've overcome but also the profound impact of community and connectivity in fostering innovation and driving change within fintech. Their conversation is a testament to the power of lifting each other up and rewriting the narrative around women's roles in technology and finance. Don't miss it!

The US dollar is coming off its worst two-week streak this year as slower US growth and inflation lead investors to bet on more aggressive policy easing from the Federal Reserve. However, the losses have been somewhat limited this week as politics remains front and center in the US and China. FX markets have been caught in this tug of war between macro and politics and between the Fed and Trump. Investors are digesting the implications of a potential Trump 2.0 presidency and trade escalations between China and the West. The Fed, ECB and BoE are expected to ease monetary policy over the coming quarters despite some reflationary tendencies boiling in global supply chains. All of this complicates the outlook for the second half of the year.  Join macro analysts Boris Kovacevic and George Vessey as they break down this week's FX, market and macro news.

This week, we discuss the challenges of growing a fintech company internationally with Hong Fang, President of OKX crypto exchange, and Nicola Ebmeyer, Co-founder and CEO of Gain.Pro. We cover the recent developments and challenges in the crypto industry, the state of the private markets, language and cultural considerations in international expansion, regulatory requirements, how to sustain a growth and innovation mindset during market downturns, and the future trends in global fintech. Disclaimer: Converge is Convera’s new podcast that discusses a range of financial services topics. We want to remind our listeners that the information shared on this podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Please note that the opinions expressed on Converge are solely the opinions of the host and the guests, not Convera’s.

Recorded live at Money2020 EU! Payments in the air are often overlooked and undervalued, but they are a significant part of the travel experience for many. What might the future of airline payments look like as airlines move towards a marketplace model driven by customer-centricity and simplicity? At Money2020 EU, The Paypers Managing Director, Melisande Mual, spoke with two experts in the airline payments arena: Paul Van Alfen, Managing Director of Up in the Air and Andy Davies, Global Head of Payments for Endava to answer these questions. They explore the challenges and costs associated with payments in the airline industry, the dependency on cards as a payment method, the need for secure and comfortable payment options, and the role of technology in enabling global payments. We also delve into the impact that COVID-19 had on refunds and the importance of balancing cost and consumer preferences in adopting new payment methods.

Signs are emerging that the US economy is beginning to feel the pain from the high interest rate regime. Procyclical data has been underperforming for more than two years now. The beacon of hope and the driver of the US exceptionalism thesis, the consumer and labor market, have surprised to the downside as well in recent weeks. The macro and yields based support the Greenback has enjoyed for the most part of this year is therefore starting to wane. However, political turmoil in Europe, the possibility of a second Trump presidency, and FX weakness in Asia have added to the dollar's appeal this month. For the currency to start giving up some of its 2024 gains, we would have to see a continuation of the global disinflation trend and for politics to move out of the spotlight.   Join analysts Boris Kovacevic and George Vessey as they break down this week's market news.

Emerging markets like Africa are strategically important geographies brimming with immense talent. In this week's episode, fintech guru Matteo Rizzi and Money2020's Micky Tesfaye discuss the importance of supporting entrepreneurs in emerging markets, particularly in Africa. Matteo shares his experience with TimePledge, an initiative that provides free coaching and support to African entrepreneurs. We discuss the challenges and opportunities of the African market, including the need for financial inclusion and upskilling of talent. Matteo shares the inspiring success stories of entrepreneurs in Africa and the potential for blockchain and CBDCs in remittances and cross-border payments to drive innovation in that region and beyond.