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03 Editor’ s note
06 News and people moves update
14 Buy-side cover interview‘ Be your own brand’
In an ever-evolving industry, Michael Roberts, head of North America FICC trading at Columbia Threadneedle Investments, has continued to secure success in his space. Following his Trader of the Year 2025 win, he catches up with CLAUDIA PREECE to unpack his journey to the desk, the importance of embedded collaboration across the trading team, and the role luck can play when you position yourself for it.
22 The Big Interview
With M & G Investments Southern Africa’ s Ann Leepile
Ann Leepile, chief executive of M & G Investments Southern Africa, sits down with CLAUDIA PREECE to give her perspective on how the emerging markets landscape is set to evolve throughout 2026, as well as unpacking buy-side liquidity access, and the institutional impacts of fragmentation and multi-venue trading.
28 In depth
Prediction markets: Are we betting on the wrong horse?
As prediction markets continue to garner significant traction across everything from sports to politics, the concept is now entering the radar of institutional trading. NATASHA COCKSEDGE explores the up-andcoming sector to question whether it is truly about‘ buying into the future’ and where the line between trading and gambling is drawn.
4 // TheTRADE // Q1 2026