Critics are challenging the necessity of bank resolution plans, with figures like US Comptroller of the Currency Jonathan Gould advocating for reduced requirements. Despite criticisms, these plans have proven useful, such as in the 2023 Credit Suisse and SVB cases, where they helped manage bank failures without state-funded bailouts. While not flawless, resolution plans provide valuable frameworks for managing bank failures and preventing financial contagion

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission saw a 21% decrease in staff by year-end 2025 compared with the previous 10-year average, while the agency's purview is expanding. This was accompanied by an 80% drop in enforcement actions amid a boom in prediction and cryptocurrency markets. The Government Accountability Office is investigating the CFTC's workforce cuts, and some lawmakers have expressed concerns about the agency's ability to regulate the market.

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A study by Oklahoma State University and Emory University reveals that recommendations by financial influencers on paid Discord servers can cause immediate surges in options trading. The study shows that these "finfluencers" can drive up prices quickly, but the effect fades within two hours, often leading to losses for followers who act too late. The study notes that this trading pattern is more akin to gambling than investing.

Prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket are seeing a surge in longshot bets, with bettors frequently chasing high returns despite low probabilities of success. Since early 2025, longshot bets have accounted for about half of Kalshi volume and 52% of volume on Polymarket. Despite the financial losses, these markets continue to grow, driven by the entertainment value and the allure of high payouts.

A wave of AI-related corporate borrowing is increasing competition for capital with governments, as Broadcom lines up $50 billion of financing and SpaceX seeks $30 billion of investment-grade debt plus $10 billion in bank loans. The surge comes as sovereigns face heavy funding needs and rising yields, with the 10-year Treasury near 5.31% and the 30-year around 5.70%.

France has become the main pressure point in Europe's bond sell-off, with its 10-year yield up 70 basis points in September and its spread over Germany nearing 160 basis points as deficit and election risks drive selling. Italy's spread widened to 130 basis points, while Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland drew safe-haven demand and Spain and the UK proved more resilient.

PIF Energy CEO Ben Morrow is investing $2 billion in a fleet of supertankers to transport oil from Iraq to refineries in India and China amid a global diesel shortage. The move comes as the Trump administration faces challenges in securing tanker routes through the Strait of Hormuz due to security risks from the ongoing war with Iran. Morrow's strategy underscores the desperation to maintain oil flow from the Middle East, with tanker values soaring and shipowners hesitant to transit the strait.

Goldman Sachs' Kevin Sneader says young professionals in finance will manage AI agents from the start of their careers, potentially disrupting the traditional career path. This shift raises questions about the role of middle managers and the need for entry-level positions, as AI takes over much of the preparatory work.