With global PMI readings for manufacturing ticking up to 51.2, trade finance stocks could see a continuation of their short-term upward trend, according to latest brokerage models. Asked whether he would return to a bank, his answer was blunt: "I would never return back to the banking sector." Global trade is undergoing a transformation, shaped by shifting trade corridors and the accelerating impact of digitalization. Alongside these structural changes, financial institutions are navigating uncertainty and adapting to new regulatory and operational demands. In this roundtable moderated by BNY, representatives from the Asian Development Bank, BAFT (Bankers Association for Finance and Trade), and the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) discuss how the trade ecosystem is adapting to change — and the new opportunities that the current uncertainty presents. Trade finance-related fintechs posted double-digit user growth in Q1, a bullish sign for digital processing platforms. Their stocks traded at a 6% premium compared to month-start levels.