Capital markets

Researchers in Sweden found that venture capitalists often use unflattering language to describe female entrepreneurs. That could explain why women’s applications for funding were rejected more frequently than men’s.

The company, founded by musician Jack Conte about five years ago, allows fans to give creators a steady paycheck to create new content, and it's a clear hit among certain communities. But by severing the clear link between product and payment, it has also created some unprecedented issues.

Under Liz Myers, J.P. Morgan's equity capital markets group has led the industry in such key metrics as number of deals and fees generated for eight years running.

Across asset management, investment banking, capital markets and cards, these finance executives stand out for their performance and for helping to create a path to parity for women in sectors that tend to be even more male-dominated than the banking industry.

LendingPoint, which caters to borrowers with damaged credit records, believes that traditional credit scores are overly pessimistic about the likelihood that certain borrowers will repay.

Flush with cash, many commercial firms are also opting to pay down debt rather than take on new loans, and those seeking financing aren’t always turning to banks to meet their needs.

Fed economists are suggesting a new mortgage product that would allow home buyers to build equity faster and give banks incentive to profitably hold the loans in portfolio.

New European standards require greater data sharing to accommodate faster transaction processing, mobile payments and other digital efforts — a trend that is also inspiring new collaborations across the pond.

The commercial potential of internet-connected devices appears bound only by imagination and comfort. For security companies, there's a similar broad horizon as watches, refrigerators and other everyday items become tools for payments.

Having a leverage ratio as a backstop to risk-based capital requirements is sound, but the way it is currently calibrated is having a dramatic effect on financial markets.