As the world continues to grapple with geopolitical tensions, shifting economic currents are setting a fast pace and market volatility is dominating the headlines. Amid this, the latest edition of The TRADE Magazine hits desks today.
Despite the market chaos, it’s important to create a space to pause and take a broader perspective. As a publication covering the world of trading, market structure and regulation, we’re still feeling the energy and momentum building across markets.
Markets of course can thrive on volatility, but what stands out in our conversations with all of you across the industry these last few months is a recurring sense of positivity emerging.
Whether that be thanks to the levels of activity being seen in the European equity markets, the ramping up of tangible technological wins, regulators making strides to end their ‘turf wars’, ever more interesting datasets, or simply a change in attitudes.
This Q1 edition explore these themes and more, with heaps of content to get stuck into.
Starring on the cover for this quarter is Trader of the Year 2025, Columbia Threadneedle Investments’ Michael Roberts, who unpacks his journey to the desk, the importance of collaboration and the role of luck in trading.
Moreover, you’ll also find an insightful Meet the Desk feature with Quoniam Asset Management, to provide a peek into what truly drives their trading team, as well as The Big Interview with M&G Investments Southern Africa’s Ann Leepile.
Rounding out our magazine is this quarter’s Expert Call with Goldman Sach’s Ellie Beasley, who takes a look at what market structure developments the industry should be keeping an eye on going into Q2.
The edition is also brimming with much more exciting content – from the most impactful news and people moves from the last quarter, an in depth look at the current institutional state of play for prediction markets, and a special feature for International Women’s Day, as well as the long-only results from our Algorithmic Trading Survey.
Take a look below for more detail on the Q1 content:
Buy-side cover interview – Columbia Threadneedle Investments’ Michael Roberts
Following his Trader of the Year 2025 win, Michael Roberts, head of North America FICC trading at Columbia Threadneedle Investments catches up with Claudia Preece to unpack his journey to the desk, the importance of embedded collaboration across the trading team, and the role luck can play when you position yourself for it.
The Big Interview – M&G Investments Southern Africa’s Ann Leepile
Ann Leepile, chief executive of M&G Investments Southern Africa, sits down with Claudia Preece to give her perspective on how the emerging markets landscape is set to evolve throughout 2026, as well as unpacking buy-side liquidity access, and the institutional impacts of fragmentation and multi-venue trading.
The Expert Call
Ellie Beasley, head of market structure and EMEA equities COO at Goldman Sachs, gives her perspective on what to keep an eye on in Q2 2026.
In depth – Prediction markets: Are we betting on the wrong horse?
As prediction markets continue to garner significant traction across everything from sports to politics, the concept is now entering the radar of institutional trading. Natasha Cocksedge explores the up-and-coming sector to question whether it is truly about ‘buying into the future’ and where the line between trading and gambling is drawn.
Meet the Desk – Quoniam Asset Management
Claudia Preece sits down with Quoniam Asset Management’s Frankfurt-based trading desk, where a tightly integrated, multi-asset team combines quant discipline with hands-on execution.
In depth – International Women’s Day 2026: Celebrating women shaping the industry
In honour of International Women’s Day 2026, Natasha Cocksedge sat down with senior female leaders from PIMCO, BlackRock and UBS Asset Management to discuss their journeys to the trading desk, delving into the best way to build a career on the floor, the importance of female mentors, and the most important lessons they’ve learnt along the way.
Survey – The 2026 Algorithmic Trading Survey: Long-only
A shift from static, rules-based algorithms toward adaptive models that respond to market conditions and operate seamlessly across asset classes.
Read the full issue here.