Amid the departure of a combined 60 years of FX trading experience, Patrick Smith, head of trading, Americas at Aberdeen Investments, unpacks 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.

FX and funding are key concerns for the buy-side ahead of the UK October 2027 deadline for T+1, although improvements in areas such as rule clarity and internal mobilisation have been noted, according to a recent report by the ValueExchange.

In an ever-evolving industry, Michael Roberts, head of North America FICC trading at Columbia Threadneedle Investments, has continued to secure success in his space. Following his Trader of the Year 2025 win, he 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 TRADE sits down with Francesca Wilson, equity trader at Columbia Threadneedle Investments, to unpack key industry shifts impacting the buy-side trader today, including the rise of automation and algos, AI and the evolution of the modern trading desk.

Looking ahead to the key themes expected to dominate 2026 as Q2 kicks off, The TRADE speaks to experts from Janus Henderson Investors, Jupiter Asset Management, Aviva Investors, Nordea Asset Management, JP Morgan, Andra AP-fonden (AP2), EFG Bank, and Ostrum Asset Management to hear their insights.

Electronic trading constitutes almost half of investment grade volume, and 32% of high yield volume, with activity expected to grow further over the next few years, according to a recent Coalition Greenwich report.

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. Acting as sparring partners to portfolio managers, the desk blends its specialist expertise with shared accountability - underpinned by data, technology and constant dialogue.

As the UK, EU and Switzerland prepare for a multi-market transition to T+1, automation, market nuance, and cross-regional coordination will be critical to navigating tighter timelines and global fragmentation, Mark Austin, principal head of trade support at Connor Clark & Lunn tells The TRADE.

With the response window for The TRADE’s Outsourced Trading Survey 2026 set to close this week, Claudia Preece takes a look at key findings from last year’s iteration and unpacks exactly where the buy-side is focusing their attention as priorities continue to be focused on execution quality above all else.