ETMGS 2018: Demystifying the world of finance

It was a confluence of the best of minds at the first edition of ETMarkets Global Summit 2018 in Mumbai on Thursday. The who's who of the market were all there to discuss at length trends, challenges and prospects of the financial system.

As the growth juggernaut rolls, the flagship event offered a ringside view of what played on the speakers' minds and their prescriptions for a new India.

Let's check out all that happened session by session at the marquee event. Happy viewing!

Will a gradual monetary tightening by global central banks amid weaker growth impulses, protectionist trade policies and uneven capital flow slow down emerging economies like India?

Providers of new technologies constantly live in fear of the regulatory axe. While the nation has risen in ranks in terms of ease of doing business, some feel over-regulation and policy hurdles still remain bad hangovers in pursuit of faster growth. Is it so?

In a country that is yet to come to terms with algo-trading in stock market, Sebi is exploring use of blockchain technology to add speed to the trading infrastructure. Are these advancements in going to do us more good or leave us with more risks?

Financial inclusion has been one of the defining aspects of policy making in India over the past few years. Some even credit Indian households for the current positive momentum in the Indian equity market. Slowly but surely Indians from the hinterland have come to own a slice of the country’s financial system.

As crypto-currencies make news with a stupendous rise in value and unimaginable asset creation for early investors, regulators are still wrestling with issues of their regulation. Are our regulators behind the curve, really?

The much-awaited integration of spot and futures markets is still work in progress. Sebi has just floated the idea of universal exchanges, bringing commodities at par with stocks. What would it take to develop the commodities market faster and bring this asset class closer to investors?

Crypto-currencies created the biggest splash in financial markets in the year gone by. How big is the risk from crypto-currencies, really? Can they throw up a big opportunity for financial markets and investors?

Small and medium enterprises have emerged as a highly vibrant and dynamic sector of the Indian economy. The IPO platforms on BSE and NSE have witnessed successful fund raising by many SMEs over the past few years. But that’s the story of only a handful. What would it take to make capital markets friendlier to SMEs and these small entrepreneurs more acceptable to investors?

As central banks globally lean towards tightening monetary policies, the liquidity glut is set to be over in a year or two and capital will seek greener pastures. Can Indian economy and businesses stand out in that equation as favoured options for overseas capital?

Technology is here to stay, and will continue to raise the bar in the fintech space! How to ensure responsible use of technology? Can regulation and policing address the issue of cyber security in the fintech space?

Brexit is putting London at the risk of losing its status as the best global financial centre. Hong Kong has lost much of its competitive edge after being overtaken by Singapore as the third leading global financial centre. What would it take to transform cities like Mumbai, Ahmedabad into a favourite destination for the world’s best financial professionals?