FT News Briefing The FT heads to Davos
Jan 16, 2023
The podcast discusses the surging demand for 'buy now, pay later' services in the UK, revealing its appeal across all demographics. It also delves into U.S. regulatory challenges surrounding collateralized fund obligations, highlighting potential risks for private equity and insurance sectors. Additionally, discussions around the World Economic Forum in Davos offer insights into the significance of networking among global leaders and the urgent geopolitical issues overshadowing the event.
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BNPL Boom in UK
- Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) services are gaining popularity in the UK across all age groups.
- This surge in demand is driven by the cost of living crisis, but the unregulated nature of BNPL raises concerns.
CFO Scrutiny
- US regulators are scrutinizing collateralized fund obligations (CFOs), an investment vehicle used by private equity.
- The regulators believe rating agencies underestimate CFO risks, echoing pre-2008 concerns about similar products.
Davos Networking
- Gideon Rachman finds the Davos meeting a valuable opportunity for networking, even with controversial figures like President Marcos.
- He first met Vladimir Putin at Davos in 2008.