Anthropic has introduced AI agents designed to handle financial services tasks such as drafting pitch decks and reviewing financial statements. The tools target professionals in banking, insurance, asset management and fintech. Anthropic has also formed a joint venture with Blackstone and Goldman Sachs to deploy its software more broadly.

Electronic trading is gaining ground in the corporate bond market, with algorithms now managing a substantial portion of large trades. Barclays reports that electronic requests for quotes are sharply gaining ground against voice-based trading, reflecting a broader industry trend toward automation. This change has lowered transaction costs and increased liquidity, benefiting traders and investors. However, human oversight remains crucial, as algorithms continue to evolve and improve their capabilities in handling complex trades.

The International Securities Lending Association and International Capital Market Association have released the Digital Bonds Annex to enhance the Global Master Repurchase Agreement and Global Master Securities Lending Agreement. The annex aims to facilitate transactions involving digital bonds, defined as securities using distributed ledger technology. The initiative, supported by Clifford Chance, seeks to standardize legal frameworks and promote the adoption of digital assets in capital markets.

Digital assets and tokenization are transforming capital markets, moving from pilot projects to large-scale institutional use. Major financial institutions such as JPMorgan Chase and BlackRock are processing significant transaction volumes using digital assets. However, challenges such as platform fragmentation and legal harmonization remain.

The Depository Trust & Clearing Corp. is set to launch a tokenization service in October, aiming to bridge traditional finance and decentralized finance. The service, developed with input from more than 50 financial firms including BlackRock, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase, will initially facilitate limited production trades of tokenized real-world assets in July.

Federal Reserve Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman has emphasized the need for regulators to adapt to new technologies, such as Anthropic's Mythos artificial intelligence model, which identifies cybersecurity vulnerabilities. Bowman notes that while Mythos can enhance cybersecurity, it also poses risks if used maliciously. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell recently met with major banks to discuss these potential threats.

The Financial Conduct Authority has released guidance to support the adoption of tokenized funds, clarifying how asset managers can use distributed-ledger technology within existing regulations. The guidance introduces the optional Direct to Fund model, which allows investors to transact directly with funds, and confirms the use of public and private blockchain networks.

The American Bankers Association, the Bank Policy Institute, the Consumer Bankers Association and other industry groups said a proposed Clarity Act provision aimed at barring payments of interest and yield on stablecoins "falls short of that goal." The groups said the proposal by Sens. Angela Alsobrooks, D-Md., and Thom Tillis, R-N.C., would enable crypto exchanges to make such payments via membership programs. "This is a significant loophole that must be addressed," the groups said.