LatAm archivos - Funds Society

Ten Tips for Donating Effectively After the Earthquake in Venezuela

It has already been a week since the devastating earthquakes recorded in Venezuela that have broken everyone’s hearts. Faced with this humanitarian emergency, many are wondering how to help. From Fundación Lealtad, a Spanish entity belonging to the International Committee on Fundraising Organizations (ICFO), they remind us that, in this context, “channeling solidarity through organizations with experience and operational capacity on the ground is fundamental for aid to reach those who need it most quickly and effectively.”

From Fundación Lealtad, they share this guide of best practices to make donations more efficient:

What You Should Always Do

Inform yourself before donating. Learn about which needs have to be covered, what is required, who is taking action, and how. Depending on the type of emergency and its evolution, different actions will be necessary, and needs may vary.

In-kind donations. Before organizing a collection for any material, ask if the organization accepts that type of donation. Collecting, sorting, and shipping materials is a complex process, and sending unneeded materials complicates management during times of crisis. In many cases, specialized NGOs or foundations already have pre-packaged humanitarian aid materials ready.

Secure donations. Donations in emergency cases must have the same security guarantees regarding electronic transactions, privacy, and data protection as at any other time. Demand them.

Experience/Presence. Make sure that the NGO or foundation you are donating to has experience in the field it works in. In addition to being able to act diligently and quickly, experience contributes to the efficient use of funds. It is also important to ensure that the organization is present in the area to be assisted.

Decide which activities you want to support. In emergencies, resources of different types and at different times are needed: food, healthcare, technology, blankets, medicines, etc.

What You Should Never Do

Donate to an individual. Never make a transfer or an online donation in the name of an individual; always do it in the name of an NGO or foundation.

Failing to verify. Perform a minimal review of who is behind the social project through their website, social media, etc.

What Is Convenient for You to Do

Designated funds. You should know that contributions raised for a specific emergency are referred to as “designated funds.” The NGO or foundation undertakes the commitment to allocate them to the purpose for which they are requested. Thus, if an organization raises more designated funds than it can allocate to the emergency, it must communicate this to its donors. It might allocate them to an emergency fund to cover other disasters, or to the reconstruction of the affected area.

After donating. Review the information that the NGO or foundation provides through its website, newsletters, social media, etc. Take an interest in the amount raised, the results obtained, new needs, and the evolution of the humanitarian emergency.

Recovery. Bear in mind that help will be needed beyond the first few days of the emergency. Your collaboration will also be necessary in the long term.

The Industry Mobilizes

Like many other economic sectors, global investment firms have also mobilized to help Venezuela, after estimating total losses between 10 billion and 100 billion dollars, in addition to the human losses. For example, in Spain, Mutuactivos, the fund management arm of the Mutua Madrileña Group, reacted quickly by activating the solidarity class (Class B) of its Mutuafondo Compromiso Solidario fund. The assets and returns raised through this class will be donated entirely to Cáritas to finance humanitarian emergency and reconstruction efforts in the hardest-hit areas of Venezuela, such as La Guaira and Caracas.

From Grupo Mutualidad, through Fundación Mutualidad, they have activated their collaboration with the Red Cross to provide a quick and effective response through its Emergency Fund. “To this end, we have launched a donation campaign so that anyone who wishes to collaborate can join this solidarity effort. Mutualidad will match the amount raised up to a maximum of 50,000 euros,” they explain.

In the US, Activist Wealth Management, which brings together advisory firms such as Miami’s Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs), has mobilized personnel both on the ground in Venezuela and in Florida. Their initiatives are focusing on coordinating the shipment of immediate relief supplies, offering logistical assistance, and activating emergency liquidity plans for families and clients with wealth affected by the destruction.

In addition, BBVA has announced a donation of 5 million euros to respond to this humanitarian emergency. “This contribution will be used to support the various initiatives launched by the Red Cross, UNICEF, UNHCR, and other local organizations, both to address the most urgent needs and to contribute to subsequent reconstruction efforts,” the international entity explained. Furthermore, the BBVA Group has activated fundraising campaigns among clients and employees to expand the aid destined for the emergency and has launched other initiatives to support the population during this initial phase of the emergency.

Another organization moving with the greatest speed in Miami is the Global Empowerment Mission (GEM), which has activated a large-scale emergency response, becoming one of the main logistical channels from South Florida (US) to send direct assistance to the affected areas. An example of the work it is developing is that it has coordinated humanitarian flights to transport cargo from Miami to Caracas. Specifically, in collaboration with Amazon Air, a massive shipment was scheduled to transport nearly 500,000 supplies, including electrical generators, waterproof tarps, sleeping bags, and water filters.

Family Enterprise Partners Integrates Diaphanum’s US Business and Reinforces Its International Strategy

| By Amaya Uriarte | 0 Comentarios

Family Enterprise Partners (FEP) and Diaphanum have reached a strategic agreement through which the business previously developed by Diaphanum in the United States will be integrated into the international structure of Family Enterprise Partners, thereby reinforcing the firm’s presence in one of its priority growth markets.

As a result of the operation, Diaphanum Americas LLC, an entity regulated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), will operate under the new name FEP Wealth LLC, consolidating the international expansion of Family Enterprise Partners within its long-term growth strategy.

According to both entities, the agreement represents the natural evolution of a collaboration started five years ago, a period during which Family Enterprise Partners developed its financial advisory activity in the United States with Diaphanum as a strategic partner. Both firms had jointly built an independent wealth advisory model aimed especially at business families and high-net-worth individuals.

The integration is part of Family Enterprise Partners’ strategic growth plan, which envisions reaching 3 billion dollars in assets under advisement before 2030, in addition to expanding its coverage to exceed 60 business families as clients globally.

In parallel, over recent months, the firm has reinforced various key areas of its corporate structure by bringing in professionals from international financial institutions across departments such as investments, client relations, marketing and communication, regulatory compliance, finance, wealth intelligence, and business intelligence.

Rafael Alberca and Daniel Cervantes, founding partners of Family Enterprise Partners, explained that this operation represents “a natural step in the evolution of the relationship built with Diaphanum,” and highlighted that the goal remains to accompany business families wherever they develop both their wealth and their business projects.

“This new phase allows us to reinforce that closeness, expand our service capacity in the United States, and continue offering independent advisory with a global and long-term vision,” both founders noted.

Despite the integration of the US business, both entities will maintain a close collaboration in Spain. Family Enterprise Partners will continue to act as an authorized agent of Diaphanum Valores S.V. S.A.U., while both companies will keep working together to provide independent financial advisory services tailored to business families and high-net-worth individuals.

With this operation, Family Enterprise Partners accelerates its international positioning within the wealth management segment, while deepening a strategy focused on offering global wealth solutions to clients with increasingly internationalized business structures.

When the Ball Rolls, the Stock Market Also Moves: The Companies That Win With the World Cup

| By Amaya Uriarte | 0 Comentarios

While millions of fans follow every match of the 2026 World Cup, another tournament is being played in parallel in the financial markets. Historically, the Football World Cup has become a temporary catalyst for various economic sectors, from food and beverages to e-commerce, entertainment, betting, and consumer electronics.

The 2026 edition—the first to be jointly hosted by three countries (Mexico, the United States, and Canada), and the largest in history with 48 teams and 104 matches—could generate more than 41 billion dollars in global economic activity and become one of the year’s biggest drivers of consumption for multiple industries.

Analysts at Morgan Stanley estimate that advertising activity associated with the tournament alone could exceed 500 million dollars, while around 44% of US consumers plan to actively engage with the event through television, streaming, and social media.

For investors, the question is not whether the World Cup generates money, but which companies manage to capture that additional spending.

The E-commerce Championship

The first regional beneficiary appears to be e-commerce, and stocks like Mercado Libre, which trades on the Nasdaq under the ticker MELI, seem to confirm this. This stock has registered an advance of approximately 6% to 7% from the start of the World Cup on June 11 until the first days of July, driven by expectations of higher digital consumption and a strengthening of electronic payments during the tournament.

The company also reported year-over-year revenue growth of 49% during the first quarter of 2026, with Mexico contributing nearly a quarter of the group’s consolidated performance. The phenomenon is not surprising: televisions, jerseys, food, promotional items, and delivery services usually see increases in demand during World Cup weeks, benefiting e-commerce and digital payment platforms.

Breweries Await Their Own Final

Few industries are as closely linked to football as beer. Jefferies analysts estimate that the 2026 World Cup will generate the additional consumption of more than 1 billion cases of beer globally, enough to raise the sector’s annual sales volume by 0.2 to 0.3 percentage points.

Among the best-positioned Latin American companies is Ambev, the largest beer producer in Latin America and owner of brands like Skol, Brahma, and Antarctica in Brazil. The company maintains a market capitalization close to 50 billion dollars and distributes an annual dividend of around 4.2%.

Arca Continental, one of the largest Coca-Cola bottlers in the world and a key player in the Mexican and US markets, also stands out. The company even announced investments linked to the World Cup legacy worth 76 million pesos for water infrastructure in schools in Nuevo León and Jalisco, two of the states hosting the tournament in Mexico.

Another issuer that could benefit is Fomento Económico Mexicano, owner of the OXXO chain and a major participant in the bottling business through Coca-Cola FEMSA, whose extensive network of points of sale usually sees traffic increases during large-scale sporting events.

Streaming and Advertising: The New Digital Stadium

The streaming revolution has transformed how football is monetized. The 2026 World Cup is already recording record digital audience figures. In Brazil, CazéTV reached peaks of over 12 million simultaneous viewers, while the Spanish-language broadcast of the match between Mexico and South Korea recorded 6.1 million viewers via streaming in the United States.

The agreement between DAZN and DirecTV Latin America to broadcast the tournament’s 104 matches in several South American countries is another sign of the event’s strategic relevance for digital platforms. Standing out in this segment is the Argentine tech company Globant, which specializes in digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and media and entertainment solutions—sectors that historically increase technological investment during major sporting events.

Electronics and Televisions: The Giant Screen Effect

The television business is usually one of the most sensitive to the football calendar. The analysis firm Omdia reported that global TV shipments grew 6% year-over-year during the first quarter of 2026, reaching 50.3 million units, driven primarily by inventory accumulation ahead of the World Cup.

NielsenIQ forecasts that global TV sales will increase by around 10% during the World Cup season, although the boost would be lower than that observed in Russia 2018 due to a weaker macroeconomic environment and market maturity.

An Alternative Indicator of Consumer Sentiment

Although the so-called “World Cup effect” is usually temporary and does not change companies’ long-term fundamentals, it does serve as a thermometer of consumer appetite and household sentiment.

Historical experience shows that companies linked to beverages, entertainment, e-commerce, and discretionary consumption usually record temporary increases in sales and traffic during the tournament—something that can eventually translate into better quarterly results and, in some cases, better stock market performance. Because during a World Cup, it is not just national teams that compete; companies, investors, and stock exchanges play too.

State Street Secures ETF SPYM as the Default Vehicle for the New U.S. Children’s Investment Program

| By Amaya Uriarte | 0 Comentarios

State Street Investment Management has been selected by the United States Department of the Treasury to participate in a new national savings and investment initiative aimed at minors in the United States. The asset manager announced that its State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF (SPYM) will be the exclusive default investment vehicle within the program known as Trump Accounts, a new scheme designed to foster long-term investment from an early age.

The program, driven by the U.S. government under the Working Families Tax Cut Act legislation, will officially begin this July 4, 2026, coinciding with the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the country’s Declaration of Independence. According to the firm, the selected ETF tracks the S&P 500 index and offers diversified exposure to the leading publicly traded companies in the United States. Furthermore, State Street highlights that it is currently the lowest-cost S&P 500 ETF on the market, making it an especially suitable tool for a long-term investment strategy geared toward small savers.

The so-called Trump Accounts will allow minors under the age of 18 to access tax-advantaged investment accounts with low-cost indexed exposure to the U.S. economy. Under the program, children born between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2028, will be eligible to receive a single, initial 1,000 dollar contribution funded by the U.S. Treasury, provided an authorized adult activates the account during federal tax filing.

Additionally, any U.S. minor will be able to receive supplementary contributions of up to 5,000 dollars annually, which will be automatically invested in the SPYM ETF as the default option.

Yie-Hsin Hung, CEO of State Street Investment Management, noted: “We are delighted that SPYM has been selected as the default fund for this important savings and investment program. These accounts are designed to make investing simple, accessible, and sustainable over time, allowing families to start early and stay invested for the long term.”

For her part, Anna Paglia, the firm’s Global Head of Business, recalled that the company has spent more than forty years developing solutions aimed at expanding investor access to financial markets through efficient and scalable vehicles.

Furthermore, State Street announced that it will be one of the first American companies to match the Treasury’s contribution for the children of eligible employees, thereby expanding the program’s reach and reinforcing its commitment to financial education and long-term investing.

BBVA Launches Independent Multi-Family Office Service for Fortunes Between 30 and 300 Million Euros

| By Amaya Uriarte | 0 Comentarios

After months of internal work, BBVA Private Banking has announced the launch of an independent multi-family office service for fortunes between 30 and 300 million euros. The initiative is led by César Solera, Head of BBVA Multi-Family Office in Spain. Aiming to become a benchmark in wealth management, the service—which is already operational and will be presented to its private banking clients—takes the form of an independent company with a value proposition backed by three pillars: an experienced team, company independence and autonomy, and technology.

The service, which was presented and launched in Spain, has a global and international scope, meaning it will be implemented in other geographies where the bank operates. Regarding the pace at which this service will be rolled out to other countries, Fernando Ruiz, Head of BBVA Private Banking, explained that “it will depend on the needs of high-net-worth clients in other markets, as well as the characteristics of this ultra-high-net-worth profile, whose requirements vary by country.”

At an operational level, they noted that the service starts with a team of 10 senior professionals, each with more than 20 years of experience. This team will grow based on client needs, operating from offices located in Madrid’s prime area, outside the orbit of standard BBVA offices.

According to Solera and Ruiz, the target audience is not its current Private Banking or Wealth Management clients—”to whom this service will also be offered”—but rather those high-net-worth individuals and business families seeking a comprehensive management proposal that operates across multiple entities, with a special focus on governance.

“These services do not compete with each other; they complement one another. It adds a layer of service and advice. We are launching this service because we believe there is sufficient demand in Spain from these high-net-worth individuals or family businesses. The service is designed to address all needs, including the growing demand from Latin American wealth profiles,” both executives commented.

Open Architecture and Independence

The multi-bank operations and open architecture model with which this service is born allow clients to consolidate wealth information regardless of the institutions they work with. This provides a unified and transparent view of their assets, offering a more precise reading of risks, costs, diversification, and investment opportunities.

Additionally, this unit provides clients with a multidisciplinary team possessing cross-functional capabilities. This close, personalized guidance integrates into the realities and objectives of each holder. With a focus on building long-term relationships, the company acts as an extension of the client, transforming into a strategic partner that guarantees continuity, trust, and generational alignment.

Furthermore, its commitment to independence shapes an advisory model geared toward providing order, strategic vision, and coordination, moving well beyond the simple selection of financial products. The goal is to help preserve and grow wealth over the long term, avoiding the loss of value caused by inflation, market volatility, or insufficient planning.

A Proposal Structured Around Four Ejes

BBVA backs this new service with its differential capabilities, such as its international footprint, technological leadership, and wealth management expertise. In this sense, the value proposition of the multi-family office is structured around four main axes that comprehensively address all dimensions of wealth using specialized tools and services.

The first is investment strategy, defining investment frameworks and guiding families in asset allocation across listed markets, private markets, and real assets. The second is wealth planning, which allows for the consolidation of all client assets to perform a comprehensive diagnosis and design a roadmap incorporating wealth structure, taxation, succession planning, and a long-term vision. This analysis will rely on tracking tools and scenario analysis, with particular attention to wealth protection and its evolution across generations.

It will also include defining real estate strategies, analyzing and managing property wealth, as well as accessing off-market opportunities, international investments, and alternative assets. This dimension is especially relevant for many families where non-financial assets represent a significant portion of their global structure.

The third axis is governance and legacy, supporting generational transition processes and preparing future heirs to assume their wealth responsibilities. The fourth is purpose and lifestyle, incorporating fields such as philanthropy, art collection management, and other specialized services linked to family legacy. The model is rounded out with other financial services, including debt and financing structuring, insurance and forecasting solutions, and coordinated access to internal and external specialists based on each client’s needs.

250 Years After Its Independence, the United States Is the Leading Global Financial Asset

| By Amaya Uriarte | 0 Comentarios

On July 4th, the United States will celebrate the 250th anniversary of its Declaration of Independence. Two and a half centuries later, the country has not only consolidated its position as the world’s largest economy, but also as the primary destination for global savings and the benchmark market for institutional investors from practically every region of the globe.

Pension funds in Latin America, European insurers, sovereign wealth funds in the Middle East, American universities, and wealth managers in Asia all share a common characteristic today: a significant portion of their portfolios depends on the performance of Wall Street, the dollar, and the U.S. Treasury bond market.

The magnitude of this financial dominance is difficult to match. The ETF industry in the United States currently manages around 15.7 trillion dollars—a historic record—while during the first five months of 2026 alone, it captured more than 837 billion dollars in new inflows.

Globally, assets under management through ETFs reached a peak of 23.08 trillion dollars at the close of May, reflecting the structural growth of indexed investing and passive management—two segments where U.S. markets continue to hold a dominant position.

“Financial integration with the United States is no longer solely a geographical or commercial decision, but a natural consequence of the depth, liquidity, and sophistication of its markets,” explains Juan Carlos Eguiarte of BAI Capital.

The relevance of the United States transcends even its borders. Decisions made by the Federal Reserve continue to determine the global cost of money, the movements of the dollar, and flows toward emerging markets, while U.S. Treasury bonds continue to function as the primary risk-free asset used to value virtually any financial asset in the world.

Not even recent concerns over the rising U.S. fiscal deficit, the growth of public debt, or geopolitical tensions have substantially altered this dynamic. Investors continue to allocate capital to U.S. equities, debt, and exchange-traded vehicles, reaffirming the central role of that market within global investment strategies.

Moreover, American influence is not limited to its stock exchanges. The dollar remains the principal currency of the international financial system and continues to serve as the ultimate safe haven during episodes of global uncertainty. According to data from the International Monetary Fund, 56.8% of global central bank foreign exchange reserves remain denominated in dollars—a proportion higher than the sum of the next most significant reserve currencies combined, led by the euro and the Japanese yen.

The American currency also maintains a dominant position in the international banking and payments system. Close to 55% of international bank loans and assets are denominated in dollars, while around 60% of cross-border deposits and liabilities use the U.S. currency as a benchmark, consolidating its role as the financial language of global trade and investment.

Added to this is the role of U.S. Treasury bonds, considered by investors and regulators as the planet’s primary risk-free asset and used as a benchmark to value everything from corporate debt to infrastructure projects and emerging markets. The Treasury market currently exceeds 30 trillion dollars and constitutes the deepest and most liquid debt market in the world.

And perhaps no institution symbolizes the global influence of the United States better than the Federal Reserve. Decisions regarding interest rates, liquidity, and monetary communication adopted by the Fed have immediate effects on financing costs, the behavior of the dollar, and capital flows toward both developed and emerging economies.

In international markets, there is even an old unwritten rule: when the Fed speaks, the world listens. Statements by its chair can move the prices of bonds, equities, commodities, and currencies across virtually every continent in a matter of minutes, or even seconds.

However, U.S. financial hegemony faces growing challenges. The dollar’s share of international reserves is currently at its lowest level in several decades, and some central banks have begun to gradually diversify into other currencies and gold. Nevertheless, so far no competitor has managed to simultaneously offer the market depth, liquidity, legal certainty, and financial infrastructure provided by the United States.

For fund managers and wealth administrators, the 250th anniversary of American independence offers a rare takeaway for a historical milestone: the main U.S. export is no longer just goods, technology, or energy, but financial confidence.

Two and a half centuries after 1776, the world continues to use the United States not only as an economic reference, but as the axis around which global portfolios are built.

Competition for Deals Intensifies in the Private Credit Industry

| By Amaya Uriarte | 0 Comentarios

Con el telón de fondo de una industria cada vez más concentrada y donde los grandes negocios reinan en el ecosistema de crédito privado, la competencia por acceder a las transacciones más atractivas se está volviendo más intensa. Ese es el diagnóstico de McKinsey & Company, según un informe reciente de la consultora.

El polvo seco (dry powder) de los fondos cerrados de crédito directo terminó la primera mitad del año pasado en alrededor de 500.000 millones de dólares, cerca de sus máximos históricos. Esto, señalaron desde la firma, “subraya la escala del capital que está compitiendo por un número finito de negocios”.

A esto se suma la presión agregada de la demanda de los canales de inversores privados, reflejada en el auge de los vehículos semilíquidos de deuda privada. “Como estos vehículos levantan capital continuamente (en vez de realizar llamados de capital a medida que los necesitan), las gestoras están bajo una gran presión para desplegarlo rápido y empezar a generar rendimientos”, explicaron.

Otro ingrediente de esta dinámica es que la competencia de los bancos y el sector de préstamos sindicados a gran escala (BSL, por su sigla en inglés) también se ha vuelto más aguda. En palabras de McKinsey, las firmas financieras tradicionales están compitiendo con más fuerza no solo como facilitadores de deuda sindicada, sino a través de principios directos.

J.P. Morgan, por ejemplo, destinó 50.000 millones de dólares de su propio balance para originar deudas al estilo del crédito privado, “con el objetivo de competir directamente con gestoras no bancarias en velocidad, certeza de ejecución y tamaño”.

Además, las nuevas emisiones de BSL siguen cerca de sus niveles récord y los flujos de refinanciamiento entre ambos mercados están alcanzando la paridad, agregaron. “Aproximadamente 37.000 millones de dólares en préstamos BSL se refinanciaron en créditos directos, mientras que 34.000 millones en préstamos directos se movilizaron en la otra dirección. Esto marca un quiebre claro con años anteriores, cuando los flujos eran mayoritariamente unidireccionales, de BSL a crédito directo”, explicaron en su informe.

Con todo, la competencia más fuerte está modificando el panorama de precios y condiciones de los negocios, manteniendo un cambio a favor de los prestatarios. La señal más clara de esto, comentaron desde McKinsey, es la compresión de los spreads, que cayeron de un máximo de 716 puntos básicos (en marzo de 2023) a los 544 puntos básicos registrados a finales de 2025.

Concentración de la industria

A la par con el fenómeno observado en mercados como el private equity, el mercado de deuda privada también está avanzando hacia una mayor concentración. Y en este contexto, la escala de las gestoras importa más que nunca.

“Incluso en un mercado de levantamiento de capital más suave, los mánagers con escala siguieron recaudando vehículos de tamaño récord, lo que subraya que el capital se está concentrando en pocas manos”.

Ares Management, por ejemplo, uno de los nombres más prominentes en el mundo de la gestión de fondos alternativos, consiguió atraer 17.100 millones de libras esterlinas (alrededor de 22.640 millones de dólares) en compromisos de LPs para su sexto fondo insignia en Europa. Esta transacción marcó el vehículo cerrado de deuda privada más grande de la historia en términos de compromisos.

“Efectivamente, el levantamiento de capital para fondos cerrados de crédito privado siguió avanzando hacia la concentración en 2025”, zanjó McKinsey en su informe.

La consultora resaltó que los mayores 25 gestores concentraban alrededor del 72% del fundraising total y que las siete plataformas de crédito privado más grandes aumentaron sus activos bajo gestión (AUM) en torno a un 20% anual de 2022 a 2025, superando el crecimiento del mercado en general.

“Lo que está claro es que la escala importa considerablemente. Permite una oferta de productos más amplia, una liquidez más oportuna y carteras de activos diversificadas más grandes”, indicaron. Estas capacidades, agregaron, son difíciles de replicar por parte de las firmas de inversión más pequeñas.

University of Oxford and EBC Financial Group Renew Partnership to Boost Economic Education

| By Amaya Uriarte | 0 Comentarios

EBC Financial Group (EBC) and the University of Oxford’s Department of Economics announced the renewal of their strategic partnership for an additional three years, consolidating a collaboration aimed at expanding public access to economic knowledge and bringing academic research closer to audiences worldwide.

As part of the agreement, EBC will continue to sponsor an annual edition of the webinar series “What Economists Really Do,” an initiative by Oxford’s Department of Economics designed to bring globally relevant economic topics closer to students, researchers, alumni, and anyone interested in better understanding the challenges facing modern economies.

The renewal of this collaboration comes at a time when financial education and the understanding of economic phenomena have acquired increasing relevance for individuals, businesses, and investors. Since the beginning of the partnership, the editions sponsored by EBC have addressed topics such as tax evasion, financial literacy, and the economic impact of climate change. Each session has brought together internationally renowned specialists and academics, creating spaces for discussion on some of today’s main economic challenges.

According to figures shared by both institutions, the sessions have registered around 200 live attendees per edition, while the accumulated recordings have surpassed 3,600 views and more than 270 hours of playtime. Christopher Stiegeler, Executive Director of EBC Financial Group (Cayman) Limited, stated: “The renewal of the agreement responds to the importance of bringing reliable economic information to an increasingly broader audience.”

He also highlighted the benefits of the alliance for the University of Oxford: “In a constantly evolving global economy, access to reliable financial knowledge is more important than ever. Our collaboration with the University of Oxford’s Department of Economics reflects EBC’s commitment to education and to developing tools that help people make more informed decisions,” Christopher concluded.

In addition to this partnership, EBC has driven financial education initiatives and academic collaborations with higher education institutions in different regions of the world, including projects developed with universities in Mexico, Asia, and Latin America.

For his part, Johannes Abeler, Head of the Department of Economics at the University of Oxford, emphasized the relevance of bringing academic research closer to society: “Public outreach and education are a fundamental part of our mission. Through initiatives like What Economists Really Do, we seek to show how economics can contribute to improving public policies and to better understanding the issues shaping today’s world.” Over the next three years, both institutions will continue working to bring economic research to new audiences through educational content, specialized seminars, and outreach materials designed to facilitate the understanding of complex economic topics.

The initiative is part of EBC Financial Group’s corporate social responsibility efforts focused on lowering barriers to educational access and fostering more informed participation in topics related to economics, financial markets, and global development.

The Bet of Family Offices on Digital Assets

| By Amaya Uriarte | 0 Comentarios

New global research from Ocorian, an international provider specialized in services for high-net-worth individuals, family offices, financial institutions, asset managers, and corporates, reveals that family offices are increasingly focusing their attention on digital assets.

The study, conducted among family members, senior family office employees, and intermediaries working for family offices with total assets under management of 68.26 billion dollars, found that this is a trend that has been growing over time. More than three-quarters (78%) state that the level or value of the digital assets they hold has increased over the last five years, with 15% noting a significant increase. Approximately one in five (18%) indicates that it has remained the same, and only 3% assert that it has decreased.

The trend toward digital assets shows no signs of losing momentum. The global study reveals that nearly all (97%) family offices believe that digital assets are here to stay, compared to just 1% who hold the opposite view.

This trend is also being supported by the professionals and third parties working for family offices. Nearly all (96%) family offices state that their intermediaries are adapting to respond to this growing interest in digital asset investment. “Investment in digital assets has grown exponentially in recent years, and our research shows there are no signs of it slowing down. In addition to the forecasts from family offices themselves indicating that this trend will continue, professionals and intermediaries are adapting and shifting to ensure they offer the most innovative and comprehensive services to support family offices in their investments in crypto-assets and other digital assets,” explains Leevyn Isabel, Commercial Director – Middle East at Ocorian.

Mexico Enters Risk Zone for Maintaining Investment Grade, Analysts Warn

| By Amaya Uriarte | 0 Comentarios

The Mexican economy faces an increasing deterioration in its public finances, which has significantly reduced the margin to maintain its sovereign investment grade—a scenario that could translate into higher financing costs, capital outflows, and lower foreign investment in the coming years.

In its Report on the Economic Situation of Mexico for the second quarter of 2026, Banamex warned that the rising fiscal deficit, the growth of public debt, and the increasing cost of the government’s financial service have begun to trigger red flags among international rating agencies.

The warning comes after Standard & Poor’s modified the outlook on Mexican sovereign debt from stable to negative in May, while Moody’s downgraded the country’s rating from Baa2 to Baa3, just one notch above losing investment grade.

The deterioration of fiscal metrics explains much of the concern. Public Sector Borrowing Requirements closed 2025 at 4.9% of Gross Domestic Product, even above official forecasts, while net government debt reached 52.7% of GDP, its highest level in four decades.

Added to this is a sharp increase in the financial cost of borrowing. For 2026, it is estimated that interest payments on public debt will amount to 1.5 trillion pesos (around 83 billion dollars), equivalent to 4.1% of GDP—a figure that is beginning to compete directly with spending allocated to infrastructure, healthcare, or education.

Banamex points out that the government’s fiscal space has also been reduced by the need to subsidize gasoline prices to contain the impact of international oil price increases stemming from the conflict in the Middle East.

The Ministry of Finance reactivated IEPS subsidies this year, which kept the price of Magna gasoline below 24 pesos per liter, but implied an estimated fiscal cost of 15.8 billion pesos (878 million dollars) in lost tax revenue for the federal government.

The consequences of an eventual loss of investment grade could be profound for the Mexican economy. Among the main risks are forced sales of Mexican bonds by funds with mandates exclusive to investment-grade debt, a potential exclusion from global benchmark indices, pressure on the exchange rate, and an increase in financing costs for banks, corporations, and local governments.

This scenario is also unfolding at a time of lower economic momentum. Banamex estimates that Mexican GDP contracted 0.6% quarter-on-quarter during the first quarter of the year and forecasts growth of just 1.3% for the entirety of 2026, which would imply three consecutive years of expansion below the country’s historical average.

The institution considers that Mexico still possesses significant strengths, including central bank independence, a flexible exchange rate regime, and commercial integration with the United States. However, it warns that restoring investor confidence and stabilizing the trajectory of public debt have become the main short-term economic challenges.

The review of the USMCA, international geopolitical uncertainty, and a global environment of slower growth place additional pressure on an economy that, while maintaining macroeconomic stability, is beginning to show signs of fiscal vulnerability that seemed distant just a few years ago.