North to South: Simplifying trade and supply chain complexity

In this special episode of Market Points, Patrick Bryden, Managing Director, Global Head of Thematic and Sustainability Investment Research at Scotiabank, speaks with Alex de Vries-Gao, Founder of Digiconomist, about the fast-growing energy demands of artificial intelligence. Drawing on his recent research, Alex explains the challenges of quantifying AI’s power consumption, the gaps in corporate disclosure, and the environmental implications as AI usage expands. Together, they explore how the rapid rise of AI is reshaping global electricity demand and what this means for policy, sustainability, and innovation moving forward.

In this episode of Market Points, host Nick Pocrnic, Director, Mining Sales Specialist at Scotiabank in Toronto, speaks with Alfonso Salazar Herrera, Analyst, LatAm Metals & Mining at Scotiabank Inverlat in Mexico City, about how China’s mounting industrial overcapacity is reshaping demand for key Latin American exports. From steel and iron ore to copper and pulp, they explore the knock-on effects of China’s slowing construction, shifting trade patterns, and discuss expectations around China’s upcoming five-year plan. With Latin American producers and investors squarely in the path of these structural shifts, Alfonso cautions, “if you get China wrong, you get everything wrong.”

Global trade is shifting—and the pressure is on. In the latest episode of Market Points, Dyanne Carenza, Managing Director, Global Trade & Working Capital Solutions, and Matthew Parker-Jones, Senior Vice President, International Commercial Banking, dive into the rising complexity CFOs and treasurers face across the Americas. From fractured supply chains to FX volatility, discover how Scotiabank is helping corporates build resilient, multi-regional strategies with trusted execution and advisory support.

In this episode of Market Points, Michelle Khalili, Managing Director and Global Head, Equity Capital Markets and Corporate Finance Advisory, speaks with Pete Gordon, Director, Equity Capital Markets, about the latest institutional investorsentiment toward IPOs.  Drawing from Scotiabank’s recent IPO survey of global institutional investors representing $4 trillion in assets, they discuss growing risk appetite, the return of growth as the top priority over profitability, and the strong interest in AI-driven technology. While macro uncertainty and inflation remain concerns, the outlook for the remainder of 2025 is constructive, with a robust pipeline and accelerating investor demand.

In this episode of Market Points, host Chris Kelly, Director and Head, U.S. Rates Sales, is joined by Boris Sender, Director, U.S. Rates Strategy, and Roger Quick, Director, Canadian Rates Strategy, to discuss key developments in the U.S. and Canadian rates markets. They cover the growth boost from U.S. tax cuts versus the drag from tariffs, Canada’s relative insulation from trade tensions, and shifting fiscal landscapes on both sides of the border. The team also explores central bank outlooks, implications for bond issuance, and insights on swap spreads for institutional investors and corporates navigating an evolving macro backdrop.

In this special episode of Market Points, Patrick Bryden, Managing Director and Global Head of Thematic and Sustainability Investment Research at Scotiabank, presents highlights from the 7th Annual Scotiabank Sustainability Summit. Set against a backdrop of shifting geopolitics and renewed debate over the role of sustainability in global finance, the summit brought together investors, academics, and corporate leaders from around the world. With reflections from members of Scotiabank’s Sustainable Finance and Global Equity Research teams, this episode captures key moments from two days of timely and thought-provoking conversation around the future of sustainability.

After years of dominance, the U.S. dollar is showing signs of a long-term reversal. In this episode of Market Points, Shaun Osborne, Managing Director and Chief Currency Strategist, is joined by Eric Theoret, FX Strategist, to unpack what’s driving the recent weakness in the greenback. They explore structural and cyclical pressures including fiscal and trade policy uncertainty, and the growing chatter around de-dollarization. With implications for Canadian investors and the potential for a stronger loonie even in turbulent markets, the conversation offers essential context on where the dollar may be headed.

In the latest episode of Market Points, John Hunter, Managing Director and Head, U.S. Cash Management, and Stephen Wilkinson, Managing Director and Global Co-Head, Corporate & MNC Sales, share their insights on managing cross-border transactions amidst the complexities of tariff fluctuations, trade policies, and economic shifts.  With over $1.7 trillion in annual cross-border payments across the Americas, this episode provides valuable strategies and real-world examples to help corporate treasurers optimize working capital, manage FX volatility, and leverage banking partnerships for proactive business growth. Tune in for an engaging and informative discussion that will equip you with the tools to stay ahead in the dynamic landscape of cross-border treasury operations.

In this timely episode of Market Points, host Patrick Bryden, Managing Director, Global Head of Thematic and Sustainability Investment Research at Scotiabank, welcomes renowned Oxford professor and author Karthik Ramanna to discuss his latest book, The Age of Outrage: How to Lead in a Polarized World.   Ramanna explores the drivers of societal outrage and emphasizes that traditional crisis management is inadequate for the current era. He shares practical insights from behavioural science to help leaders “turn down the temperature” and illustrates how successful organizations build resilience and navigate polarization by aligning authentically with their core missions. This conversation provides business leaders with a nuanced, realistic, yet optimistic guide to managing and thriving amid today’s complex challenges.

As global trade tensions escalate, Mexico sits at a crossroads—positioned to benefit from nearshoring, but constrained by unreliable and expensive electricity. In this episode of Market Points, Rodrigo Echagaray, Managing Director, Head of Latin America Equity Research and Global Head of Product Management, speaks with Francisco Suarez, Analyst, Latam Industrial Real Estate, Infrastructure, and ESG, and Eduardo Suarez, Vice President of Latin America Economics, about how energy reform could impact future growth. They explore the opportunity in solar, the risks of regulatory uncertainty, and why solving Mexico’s power problem is essential to realizing its nearshoring potential.