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The threat to biodiversity is moving up the agenda of financial markets, but banks are woefully unprepared, a new study has found — in fact, they are actively financing what scientists believe is a mass extinction of species.

HSBC's credit and equities business lines were the standout performers in the global banking and markets division (GBM) in the third quarter, the bank's results showed on Tuesday. Meanwhile, group chief executive Noel Quinn said the firm was adapting its business model to chronic low interest rates.

Companies raising equity in the UK this year — amid a very uncertain outlook for business prospects — may risk opening themselves up to claims related to the information they disclose or do not disclose, according to lawyers at Herbert Smith Freehills.

PrimaryBid, a company that provides retail investors with a means to take part in primary equity capital raises, completed a $50m Series B financing round on Monday to expand its international business.

Barclays enjoyed a record quarter in equities, but in its advisory and equity capital markets it lagged behind competitors, it showed in third quarter results on Friday.

Christian Meissner has an exciting new position at Credit Suisse. But how far can he improve the Swiss bank’s offering to wealth management clients while also handling its culture, asks David Rothnie.

HSBC has hired Vikas Seth for a vice-chairman position, where he will be tasked with serving the firm's emerging markets clients.

UBS's investment bank beat analyst consensus as capital markets revenue was up sharply year-on-year, while a sale of intellectual property rights resulted in a one-off gain, the bank showed in third quarter results on Tuesday.

JP Morgan's Raj Kapadia has joined MUFG as international head of capital markets, as the firm increases its leveraged finance focus. It has also set up a new group to advise clients at the C-suite level on market and macroeconomic developments, led by Tom Joyce, a hire from Deutsche Bank.

The leading US investment banks raked in fees from equity origination in the third quarter, with Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley and Bank of America all doubling their ECM revenues year-on-year.

Despite a year of turmoil, many bankers have a spring in their step, writes David Rothnie. They are rushing to get involved in the boom in special purpose acquisition companies (Spacs).

The former head of global debt capital markets origination at Deutsche Bank has linked up with 40 of his former colleagues to form a capital markets advisory firm very much in the spirit of the times — as a network that operates online — as the coronavirus pandemic forces a rethink of traditional investment banking models.