Risk & Resilience

In Singapore, the commodity financing (CF) sector plays a pivotal role in connecting global trade to the world’s financial systems. As one of the world’s key trading hubs, Singapore’s banks are responsible for financing the flow of commodities that power economies from oil and gas to metals and beyond. However, as the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) pointed out in its recent 2024 inspection report, the sheer scale and complexity of commodity trade financing means that banks are facing heightened risks that need more than just a cursory glance.

As 2025 unfolds, organizations are grappling with an unprecedented wave of risk. The world is changing rapidly, and so too are the risks businesses must navigate. Geopolitical tensions are escalating, economic forecasts are fluctuating, and technology—especially Artificial Intelligence (AI)—is completely reshaping entire industries while amplifying threats in ways we’ve never seen before. From AI-driven cyberattacks to increasingly complex global conflicts, the stakes have never been higher.

In a world that’s changing faster than a New York minute, banking chief risk officers (CROs) are feeling the pressure. According to the latest survey by EY and the Institute of International Finance (IIF), cybersecurity remains the number one concern for CROs globally. In fact, a staggering 75% of them flagged it as their top priority for the next year. But that’s not the whole story—geopolitical risks are also rising fast on the horizon, with geopolitical tensions leaping from 12th to 3rd in the list of risks to worry about.

The Spanish National Securities Market Commission (CNMV) has recently released its 2025 Activity Plan, which contains a clear set of objectives aimed at strengthening Spain’s financial market oversight. Carlos San Basilio, Chairman of the CNMV, highlighted the need for the Commission to adapt to the new challenges that the financial markets face, emphasizing that the CNMV must be both more agile and more transparent as it responds to an increasingly complex regulatory environment.

As of 17 January 2025, the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) has officially begun to reshape how the financial sector addresses ICT risk management. In response, the European Banking Authority (EBA) has made a series of key adjustments to its Guidelines on ICT and security risk management. These revisions, aimed at cutting down on duplication and creating clearer expectations for the market, help ensure that financial institutions aren’t bogged down by overlapping regulations.

In J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, the Palantír—a mystical seeing stone—gives its user the power to peer into distant lands and foresee possible futures. While this gift is fraught with danger in the story, it’s a fitting metaphor for today’s organizations facing a world of uncertainty. Just as the Palantír offers a glimpse into potential futures, modern risk management tools provide organizations with the ability to foresee emerging risks and prepare for the unexpected. In this article, we’ll explore how businesses can use a Palantír-like approach—combining foresight with strategic planning—to anticipate challenges and better navigate the evolving landscape of risk.

European insurers might not be in the eye of the storm, but they’re certainly navigating some choppy waters. The European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA) just released its latest Insurance Risk Dashboard, offering a snapshot of an industry that’s stable—at least for now—but not without its fair share of concerns. Market volatility and real estate price swings continue to cast shadows over an otherwise steady outlook, with liquidity and funding conditions tightening just enough to keep insurers alert.