BlackRock Investment Institute

The future of finance

The future of finance - one of the five mega forces that we track - entails a fast-evolving financial architecture that's changing how households and companies use cash, borrow, transact and seek returns.

 

Explore this interactive page and read our latest report on the U.S. financial landscape.

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Q: Amanda, what are the changes in the financial architecture and how are they impacting the credit market?

Tightening in bank lending standards has meant that corporates, including middle market firms, are increasingly looking outside of the banking channel, and the public debt markets, for funding, often turning towards the private debt landscape. We are tracking multifaceted tailwinds behind this asset class, including borrower’s desire for certainty of execution, structural shifts in the public markets to serve a larger and larger borrower, as well as the aforementioned tightening in bank lending standards. We expect this asset class to grow from 1.6 trillion currently, to 3.5 trillion by the end of 2028.

AMANDA LYNAM: Given the sharp move and the risk-free rate higher, investors have an attractive opportunity to lock in all-in yields, which are elevated by historical standards, without moving too far down the risk spectrum.

AMANDA LYNAM: Granular portfolio construction, credit selection, and investor expertise, are increasingly important in a higher cost of capital environment. For firms, how they can navigate a higher cost of debt is critical in managing their fundamental strength. This would include keeping track of pricing power, managing the capital structure efficiently, and growing in a capital efficient way.

For investors, this means also having expertise in managing situations where companies do run into financial strain. This is increasingly important in certain asset classes, especially in private markets.

AMANDA LYNAM: In a higher cost of debt environment, granular portfolio construction, credit selection, and investor expertise, will be increasingly important. Investors should favor companies with strong pricing power, which will help them navigate a higher cost of debt environment.

A shifting investment landscape with Amanda Lynam

Head of Macro Credit Research

A fast-changing financial architecture

Regulatory shifts, changes in financial architecture, the end of zero rates and technological innovation are changing the markets for deposits and credit, disrupting traditional business models. Banks can no longer rely on deposits as the cheap, reliable source of funding they once were. We think banks will further rein in lending, meaning companies are likely to turn to the capital markets, private lending and other non-traditional sources of credit. Fintech innovation in payments, digital currencies, tokenization of assets and AI are likely to play a key role in how the financial system, regulation and policy evolve – and who the likely winners will be.

Alex Brazier, Deputy Head of the BlackRock Investment Institute, delves more into what this shift will entail for banks, companies and investors in this episode of the The Bid podcast:

The Bid podcast
The Bid podcast /
The future of finance

Tectonic shift

One aspect of the future of finance: there’s been a tectonic shift in the financial sector changing the markets for deposits and credit. We see these shifts benefiting savers, diversifying finance for borrowers, creating a more stable system and opening up potential investment opportunities.

More competitive market

Over the past 18 months, U.S. banks have seen deposits contract at an unprecedented pace. U.S. banks will need to adjust to a more competitive market for deposits. That’s good news for savers but means banks can no longer fund lending cheaply by paying depositors rates well below the Fed’s policy rate. We think this could further encourage companies to diversify their sources of finance.

In a more competitive market, we expect to see banks paying higher rates to their depositors. Some of that will be passed on through higher rates on loans they extend. Potential regulatory changes – partly in response to the 2023 banking turmoil – could reinforce this. We see the banking system consolidating and innovating.

Investment implications

As banks adjust to this new reality, non-bank sources of credit could become relatively more attractive to companies and more important as a source of financing for economic growth and job creation. This brings potential opportunities for investors, in our view.

These developments are examples of the broader aspects of an unfolding mega force. Activities that previously were packaged together in the same institutions, such as deposit-taking and lending in banks, can be unpacked. We see that unpacking evolving further as banks and other financial institutions innovate, regulation evolves and technology develops around payments, digital currencies, the tokenization of assets and artificial intelligence.

Investor Insights

The Future of Finance

Sandra Lawson, Head of Content in our Global Client Business, explores the Future of Finance, one of the mega forces we see reshaping the world of investing. In a new Investor Insights Sessions series, Sandra and BlackRock experts dive into the impact of technological innovation, changing regulation, and economics on traditional banking models.

Investor Insights podcast /
Investor Insights podcast /
The Future of Finance

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