Few events capture the attention of all corners of the globe, however every four years, the World Cup comes around to remind us that even in an increasingly divided world, there are still moments powerful enough to connect billions of people behind a single idea.
The tournament doesn’t just capture global attention, it inspires collective investment. For a brief moment, countries, communities and individuals become united by shared excitement and at the same time divided by competing loyalties.
Capital markets are not so different.
Across borders, cultures and perspectives, firms may pursue different strategies and objectives, but they remain connected by a collective commitment to building stronger, more efficient markets - deeper liquidity, stronger infrastructure and better outcomes for investors.
The pace of change across the industry has shown little sign of slowing. Major M&A activity is on the up, the potential of AI continues to climb the agenda (more on that in this latest edition), the long-awaited rollout of consolidated tapes on both sides of the Channel marks just one of many significant milestones for market structure, and regulators continue to put on the pressure to work in unison.
Behind every strategy, technology rollout and market development are the people driving them forward. The real story of our industry has always been its people - and recent activity has been a powerful reminder of that fact.
This spirit of change and reflection is clear to see throughout this latest edition of The TRADE Magazine.
This Q2 issue includes an eye-opening and insightful conversation with this edition’s Cover Star Antonia Oddin, head of trading at Banque Eric Sturdza, as well as an excellent Big Interview with Maxence Boniol, head of execution trading at Greenwich Dealing. We also ‘Meet the Desk’ with the Nordea Asset Management’s brilliant Copenhagen-based global trading team, and check in with our Expert Call for this quarter - the ever-insightful head of equity market structure and technology at Coalition Greenwich, Jesse Forster, plus much more.
Take a look below for more detail on the Q2 content:
Buy-side cover interview – The power of staying open-minded
Antonia Oddin, head of trading at Banque Eric Sturdza, sits down with Claudia Preece to share her journey to the desk, highlighting the most impactful lessons learnt over a quarter of a century in the game. The conversation spans a deep dive into the intricacies behind building an integrated multi-asset trading desk, unpacking the importance of staying open-minded in a rapidly changing industry, and why human expertise will remain a critical differentiator in the future of trading.
Meet the Desk – Nordea Asset Management: The Scandinavian edge
Behind Nordea Asset Management’s trading team is a culture defined by trust, diverse perspectives and collective accountability. Co-heads of global trading, Rolf Mølkjær and Kasper Folke, sit down with Claudia Preece to share how a collaborative approach – where ideas are challenged and the best thinking wins – has created a dynamic built to perform in increasingly complex global markets.
The Big Interview – Greenwich Dealing’s Maxence Boniol
Former Rising Star of Trading and Execution, Maxence Boniol, head of execution trading at Greenwich Dealing, caught up with Natasha Cocksedge, to unpack his career journey so far, and discuss key factors shaping the buy-side and the wider industry, from technology and AI to bouts of market volatility.
The Expert Call
Jesse Forster, head of equity market structure and technology at Coalition Greenwich, gives his perspective on what to keep an eye on in Q3 2026.
In depth – Where does the growth of AI leave the role of the human and the trader?
As AI rapidly reshapes capital markets, from the rise of agentic AI to workflow integration, Natasha Cocksedge examines the evolving landscape, exploring the critical role of data foundations and human oversight, how the industry can balance opportunity with underlying risk, and the ever-evolving buy-side perspective.
In depth – From FX veterans to multi-asset traders: Aberdeen’s blueprint for the next dealing desk
Patrick Smith, head of trading, Americas at Aberdeen Investments, speaks with Claudia Preece about the empirical reality of the evolution of desks as hard-won trading experience begins to exit the game, unpacking why this presumed ‘loss’ of expertise is being offset by a three-pronged transformation – a trifecta of multi-asset desks, automation, and developing junior talent.
News review – A closer look at the UK fixed income consolidated tape: Concept becoming reality
After the UK consolidated tape for bonds went live on 22 June – spanning 98% of contributor coverage at launch – Natasha Cocksedge catches up with Sassan Danesh, Etrading Software chief executive, to lift the lid on the implementation plan, and unpack both the challenges and opportunities of the initiative set to transform the UK bond market.
Survey – The 2026 Algorithmic Trading Survey: Hedge funds
Record assets, rising technology budgets and growing demands for best execution are intensifying the competition for execution alpha. The TRADE’s 2026 Algorithmic Trading Survey provides insight into the changing priorities of hedge funds, from algorithmic trading adoption to provider selection amid growing market complexity.
Read the full issue here.