US Market News
2 weeks ago
Barclays Research Expects Humanoid Robots to Fundamentally Reshape the Real EconomyMay 19, 2026 9:15 AM
Business Wire In the 71st edition of its flagship Equity Gilt Study, Barclays Research analysts explore a new era of automation driven by physical AI, as humanoid robots extend AI from digital tasks into the real economy. In this year’s Equity Gilt Study, Barclays Research examines how physical AI will move beyond the digital realm and into the real economy, with humanoid robots set to reshape productivity, labour markets, geopolitics, and long-term asset returns. While equities delivered strong real returns in 2025, the report argues that the more important shift is structural, marked by higher capital investment, rising productivity, and a repricing of growth, inflation, and capital across regions and asset classes. At the centre of this shift is the emergence of humanoid robots. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260519764488/en/Barclays EGS 2026 “Humanoid robots represent the next frontier of AI, combining intelligence with physical capability,” said Ajay Rajadhyaksha, Global Chairman of Research. “Their effect could extend well beyond technology, reshaping the structure of the global economy.” Humanoid robots: the next frontier of automation Automation is entering its third phase, according to Barclays Research analysts. Humanoid robots, enabled by advances in artificial intelligence, mobility, and battery systems, are designed to operate in human environments; use existing tools; and perform full jobs, rather than isolated tasks. As the costs of producing the robots decline and deployment accelerates, Barclays Research estimates the market for humanoids could reach $200 billion by 2035, reshaping labour supply, productivity, and investment opportunities across the global economy. China leads in robotics Barclays Research analysts find that China is already the centre of gravity for the global robotics economy. Supported by unmatched scale in manufacturing, deep supply chains, and state-backed industrial policy, China accounted for 85 percent of humanoid deployments in 2025 and controls many of the critical inputs needed to scale the technology. If current trends persist, Barclays Research estimates that robots could fill up to 60 percent of the workforce gap created by China’s aging population by 2035, helping sustain economic growth and reinforcing robotics as a key pillar of its economic and geopolitical strength. How robotics will rewire economies Automation has long supported productivity growth, but its effect has largely been limited to specific tasks. Barclays Research analysts argue that humanoid robots extend automation not just to entire roles, but to those that until now could not be automated. Historically, strong productivity gains in sectors such as manufacturing coincided with a declining share of GDP, while more labour-intensive sectors expanded, a pattern known as the Baumol effect. By increasing the substitutability between labour and capital in tasks that have resisted automation, humanoids could ease these constraints and help shift that dynamic. Barclays Research also notes that more than 60 percent of employment in 2018 was in roles that did not exist in 1940, suggesting humanoids are likely to reshape, rather than reduce, the future of work. Will physical AI’s displacement effects hurt asset prices? Barclays Research analysts argue that physical AI is not a zero-sum shock and that markets may be underestimating its positive effect. By expanding the production frontier, rather than simply redistributing income, humanoid robots strengthen the case for higher productivity, higher equilibrium real rates, stronger earnings growth, and improved long-term asset returns. While adoption will reshape labour income and shift sectoral winners and losers, the overall effect is likely to be positive for growth and markets. Notes to editors: Barclays Equity Gilt Study is a flagship annual publication that combines market-leading macro analysis with a unique multi-asset dataset spanning over 100 years. It provides uniquely rich data and commentary on long-term asset returns in the UK and US. Data for the UK goes back to 1899, while the US data, provided by the Center for Research in Security Prices at the University of Chicago, runs from 1925. About Barclays Investment Bank Barclays Investment Bank helps money managers, financial institutions, governments, supranational organisations and corporate clients manage their funding, investing, financing, and strategic and risk management needs. It is comprised of the Investment Banking, Global Markets and Research businesses. As a leader in global finance, with comprehensive UK consumer, corporate and wealth and private banking franchises, a leading global investment bank and a strong, specialist US consumer bank, Barclays aims to provide a better financial future for our customers, clients and communities. www.barclays.com/ib View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260519764488/en/ Press Contact
Claudia Gilbert-Allen
claudia.gilbertallen@barclays.com
+442077732064 Original: Barclays Research Expects Humanoid Robots to Fundamentally Reshape the Real Economy
US Market News
2 months ago
Barclays Research Appoints Sahana Athreya as Global Head of Data Science & Applied AIApril 14, 2026 10:58 AM
Business Wire
Barclays Research today announced the appointment of Sahana Athreya as Global Head of Data Science & Applied AI, based in New York.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260414065778/en/Sahana Athreya headshot
In this role, Athreya will lead the firm’s data science, artificial intelligence and advanced analytics agenda across Research, as global investor demand for data-driven analysis grows.
Athreya will work closely with analysts, strategists and technology teams to embed alternative data and AI across the Research platform, scaling insights and delivering AI-enabled tools and data products for clients. The Global Data Science and Applied AI team will continue to publish differentiated Research reports for clients, complementing Barclays Research’s fundamental, macro and thematic coverage. They will also share their insights on how data and AI can be applied in the investment process, helping clients to evolve their own frameworks.
Prior to joining Barclays, Athreya led data science and advanced machine learning initiatives at some of the world’s leading hedge funds, including Eisler Capital and Millennium Management. Her work at the intersection of data science, artificial intelligence and quantamental investing has earned broad industry recognition. In 2022, Athreya was named a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree in the Finance category. She has received multiple additional honors for leadership and innovation, including the CBIZ Women Transforming Business Emerging Leadership Award, Data Science Professional of the Year, and recognition from the Economic Club of New York’s Innovation and Social Impact Challenge.
Commenting on Athreya’s appointment, Brad Rogoff, Global Head of Research at Barclays, said:
“Sahana brings a rare blend of deep technical expertise and real-world market experience. Her appointment reinforces our long-standing commitment to data science and now AI as core pillars of our Research franchise, and to delivering differentiated, world-class insights for clients globally.”
About Barclays
Our vision is to be the UK-centred leader in global finance. We are a diversified bank with comprehensive UK consumer, corporate and wealth and private banking franchises, a leading investment bank and a strong, specialist US consumer bank. Through these five divisions, we are working together for a better financial future for our customers, clients and communities. For further information about Barclays, please visit our website home.barclays.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260414065778/en/
Claudia Gilbert-Allen
claudia.gilbertallen@barclays.com
+44 7788357415
Original: Barclays Research Appoints Sahana Athreya as Global Head of Data Science & Applied AI
US Market News
4 months ago
Barclays Appoints Chetan Vohra as Global Head of Securitized ProductsJanuary 29, 2026 12:43 PM
Business Wire
Barclays today announced the appointment of Chetan Vohra as Global Head of Securitized Products. Based in New York, Mr. Vohra will report to Adeel Khan, Head of Global Markets, and will join the firm’s Global Markets Management Team.
In his new role, Mr. Vohra will lead the next phase of growth across Barclays’ Securitized Products platform, strengthening cross-asset connectivity and driving deeper engagement across origination, financing and trading.
Securitized Products continues to be a core strategic priority for Global Markets and a key driver of revenue growth. Over recent years, Barclays has invested significantly to enhance its capabilities across Agency and Non-Agency trading, while building on longstanding strength in financing and origination.
Mr. Vohra brings deep expertise and a strong track record in Securitized Products. Most recently he served as a Senior Managing Director and Portfolio Manager on the buyside. Prior to this, he spent 19 years at Citi, holding several senior leadership roles including Global Head of Securitized Products Trading with oversight across Agency, Non-Agency and Mortgage Banking. He holds degrees from the Indian Institute of Technology and Carnegie Mellon University.
Commenting on Mr. Vohra’s appointment, Adeel Khan said: “Chetan is an exceptional leader with deep industry insight and a demonstrated ability to build high-performing teams. His appointment underscores our commitment to investing in areas of strong and sustained client demand. I’m confident that his expertise and strategic vision will strengthen our Securitized Products franchise and support the continued growth of our Global Markets business.”
About Barclays
Our vision is to be the UK-centred leader in global finance. We are a diversified bank with comprehensive UK consumer, corporate and wealth and private banking franchises, a leading investment bank and a strong, specialist US consumer bank. Through these five divisions, we are working together for a better financial future for our customers, clients and communities. For further information about Barclays, please visit our website home.barclays
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260129586173/en/
Sofia Rehman
sofia.rehman@barclays.com
+442077730230
Original: Barclays Appoints Chetan Vohra as Global Head of Securitized Products
conix
10 years ago
The Big-Bank Bloodbath: Losses Near Half a Trillion Dollars
The Wall Street Journal
By David Reilly
Big banks are nearly half a trillion dollars in the hole.
Since the start of 2016, 20 of the world’s bigger banks have lost a quarter of their combined market value. Added up, it equals about $465 billion, according to FactSet data.
Brexit isn’t all to blame. True, bank stocks have plummeted since the U.K. voted last month to leave the European Union. But they have been losing value since the start of the year, when a group of factors—the Chinese economy, the path of U.S. interest rates, oil prices—weighed on the markets.
More than pride is at stake. Sharp share-price falls will make it much more difficult, and expensive, for banks to raise capital if that is what is ultimately needed to shore up their balance sheets.
Just as bad, a serious decline in market value can breed inaction among bank executives. Instead of selling equity when they can, executives may wait for share prices to recover, only to find themselves in a worse situation as stocks drop even further.
Another potential worry: As bank share prices decline, employees get antsy. Compensation packages that include stock options or restricted stock suddenly become a lot less attractive.
To get a handle on the severity of 2016 for banks, The Wall Street Journal examined the biggest U.S., U.K. and Swiss banks, some of the biggest European ones, as well as the biggest bank in each of China and Japan.
The group included: J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. Wells Fargo & Co., Bank of America Corp., Citigroup Inc., Goldman Sachs Group, Morgan Stanley, Royal Bank of Scotland PLC, HSBC Holdings, Barclays PLC, Standard Chartered PLC, UBS Group AG, Credit Suisse Group AG, BNP Paribas SA, Credit Agricole SA, Société Générale SA, UniCredit SpA, Deutsche Bank AG, Banco Santander SA, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Ltd. and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc.
The biggest market-value losers, in dollar terms, so far this year: Italy’s UniCredit has lost nearly two-thirds of its value; Royal Bank of Scotland has fallen around 56%; and Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank and Barclays have all about halved.
Those who have lost the least: J.P. Morgan Chase and Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, which are both down about 10%. In local-currency terms, share prices for all 20 banks are down year to date, except Standard Chartered, which is flat.
Despite such gloom, many banks say they don’t need to raise capital. Indeed, in the U.S. at least, the Fed’s recent bank stress tests asserted that big banks can weather particularly bad market storms. The Fed also approved plans at all the largest U.S. banks to return some capital to shareholders.
Valuations show investors aren’t feeling so confident. UniCredit, for instance, trades at about 21% of book value, a measure of a bank’s net worth, according to FactSet. Deutsche Bank trades at about 26%, or where it was during the darkest days of the financial crisis.
In fact, among the group of 20 big banks only one bank—Wells Fargo—trades at a premium to its book value. Only one other, J.P. Morgan Chase, trades near book value.
A bank trading below book value can signal that investors have questions about capital strength. It can also show markets are worried about future profitability and a firm’s ability to generate returns that exceed its cost of capital.
Plunging bond yields around the globe have exacerbated the latter concern by pressuring banks’ profit margins.
The fact that some banks are trading at less than half their book value flags even deeper concerns. Among the likely issues: A brewing battle within the EU over rules curtailing governments’ ability to bail out banks and whether those could be put on hold.
All of this has many once-mighty banks looking like shadows of their former selves. Deutsche Bank, Germany’s national banking champion and still a big player on Wall Street, now has a market value that in dollar terms is less than that of SunTrust Banks Inc., the regional U.S. bank focused on the Southeast. And the market values of UniCredit, Deutsche Bank and Credit Suisse combined wouldn’t equal that of Goldman Sachs—itself down about 20% this year.
Write to David Reilly at david.reilly@wsj.com
Level up your trading with our powerful tools and real-time insights all in one place.
dealerschool2006
4 years ago
I-Man
5 years ago
whytestocks
6 years ago
magness
10 years ago
BurningMan
10 years ago
TheFinalCD
10 years ago
armxlx
10 years ago
ClayTrader
10 years ago
Register with Email
Hot Features
Premium
