Invested: The OMFIF Podcast

Norway's extraordinary wealth as one of the world's richest countries is a source of both pride and debate, with views divided over whether it is a blessing or a burden. 

In the wake of King Harald's passing, attention turns to the state of the Norwegian economy and the management of its vast riches. Øystein Olsen, former governor of Norges Bank and member of OMFIF's advisory council, joins David Marsh, chairman of OMFIF, to d...

Artificial intelligence has transformed the conversation around investing, but much of the focus has remained on equity markets. As AI adoption accelerates across the global economy, its implications for fixed income investors are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.

In this episode, Manusha Samaraweera, fixed income investment director at Capital Group, joins Mariam Khan, economist at OMFIF, to discuss his paper, ‘Why ...

Tokenised deposits are putting commercial banks back in the centre of the evolution of digital money. Lee McNabb, head of digital assets at NatWest Group, joins John Orchard, chairman of the Digital Monetary Institute at OMFIF, about the benefits and remaining challenges of bringing tokenised commercial bank money to wholesale and retail users.

They discuss the ways central banks and policy-makers are working on this development, w...

There is a growing water crisis on multiple fronts. In early 2026, United Nations scientists declared an era of global water bankruptcy as systems hit breaking point. The social and health implications of this are widely understood, but the economic and financial risks are too often missing from the conversation. A new report by WWF finds that, when climate and nature risks are considered separately, without fully integrating fresh...

While diversification remains a priority, economic fundamentals are once again taking precedence in investment decisions as central banks navigate a more fragmented global landscape. Max Castelli, head of strategy for sovereign institutions, and Philipp Salman, director of strategy for sovereign institutions at UBS Asset Management, join Yara Aziz, senior economist at OMFIF, to unpack the main takeaways from UBS’ 32nd Reserv...

Long-standing assumptions about globalisation, multilateral co-operation and financial stability are increasingly being challenged, raising questions about whether the institutions designed to support prosperity are still fit for purpose.

Mark Sobel, vice chair and chief economist at OMFIF, is joined by Eswar Prasad, economist and author of The Doom Loop: Why the World Economic Order Is Spiraling Into Disorder. They discuss the cen...

As governments across Europe and beyond commit to significantly higher defence spending, a critical question is coming into focus: how can these ambitions be financed sustainably?

In the final instalment of the ‘Hard power’ series on defence, Mark Sobel, vice chair at OMFIF, is joined by Andrea Presbitero, economist at the International Monetary Fund. They discuss what rising military expenditure means for public financ...

With tokenisation taking hold of capital markets, the platforms offering the services are actively shaping the infrastructure and the future of the marketplace.

Mark Rakhmilevich, vice president, product management and development at Oracle, joins Lewis McLellan, head of content at OMFIF’s Digital Monetary Institute, to discuss the way tokenisation is developing in capital markets and the ways in which artificial intelligence...

Gold has re-emerged as a focal point in the global financial system. Against shifting trade dynamics, elevated public debt and questions over the future trajectory of the dollar-based monetary order, central banks are accumulating gold at a pace not seen in decades. At the same time, investors are reassessing the role of the precious metal as a hedge against inflation, market volatility and systemic risk.

David Marsh, chairman of O...

Artificial intelligence agents are beginning to make their presence felt in online payments. At present, they typically discover options for purchase and present users with buy options. However, many are already looking towards a future where AI agents have wallets and the ability to pay for small items with stablecoins. This could also create the opportunity for machine-to-machine micropayments.

Chad Harper, head of the Coinbase I...

As governments commit to long-term security strategies stretching to 2035, fiscal pressures are arriving much sooner and markets are already responding. What does sustained defence expenditure mean for sovereign debt, borrowing costs and economic priorities? Who ultimately pays, and over what timeline?

In the second episode of the ‘Hard power’ series on defence, Udaibir Das, vice chair at OMFIF, is joined by Sarah ...

Energy security and sustainability have moved to the centre of policy debate amid increasing geopolitical fragmentation and crises. Governments are balancing the need for resilient, affordable energy systems with the accelerating transition to net zero and intensifying competition over critical minerals and technologies.

In the first episode of the ‘Hard power’ series on defence, Anne Simpson, vice chair at OMFIF, ...

Crypto-assets are forming a growing part of institutional investors’ portfolios. As a result, there is a growing demand for equivalent sources of data and analytical tools that investors use to guide their trading in traditional markets.

Andrew Forson, president of DeFi Technologies and chief growth officer of Valour, joins Lewis McLellan, head of content at OMFIF’s Digital Monetary Institute, to discuss a new index tha...

Tokenisation is accelerating across capital markets and central securities depositories with their unique scale and role within capital markets have the opportunity to position themselves at the forefront of development.  

Thilo Derenbach, head of business development and commercialisation of digital initiatives at Clearstream, discusses their approach to the tokenisation of securities with head of content ...

As global conversations around gender equality evolve, the focus is increasingly shifting from commitments to measurable outcomes. This includes how legal frameworks, institutional practices and representation translate into real economic inclusion for women, and how we can better understand both the progress made and the barriers that persist across countries and sectors.

Tea Trumbic, manager of the Women, Business and the Law pro...

The representation of women in leadership, particularly in the financial sector, has been progressing over the years. This has been alongside mentorship programmes, networking platforms and career path support systems that institutions have been putting in place to advance a more equitable gender workplace. 

Shriyanka Hore, board member at London Women’s Forum, joins Andrea Correa, head of research at OMFIF, to discuss h...

As natural disasters accelerate in both frequency and severity around the world, it is becoming increasingly difficult for insurers to provide protection to people and businesses alike. Regula Hess, financial sector engagement lead at WWF Switzerland, and Arne Holzhausen, head of outreach at Allianz Investment Management, joins Sarah Moloney, editorial director at OMFIF, to discuss the climate insurance protection gap and how it th...