Latest news with #BNYMellon
Forbes
3 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
BNY Mellon Wealth CIO Shares One Quiet Power Behind Smart Investing
Sinead Colton Grant - Chief Investment Officer BNY Mellon poses in NYC - 2025 As a child growing up in 1980's Ireland, Sinead Colton Grant didn't dream of a career in finance. Instead, her journey to the top ranks of Wall Street started with an unexpected monetary gain. She was a college student headed to Italy on a summer trip when she noticed a pleasant surprise in her finances. The devaluation of the currency just before she left, meant she had a little more Italian lira than she expected. For Colton Grant, this little holiday windfall sparked a lifelong fascination with global finance and smart investing, that would see her rise from FX sales on a London trading floor to become the first female Chief Investment Officer in BNY Mellon's Wealth Management history. Her role oversees key decisions at one of the world's largest private banks. But she shares, that for her, the numbers and portfolios have only ever been part of the story. 'Investment isn't just about returns,' she says. 'It's about trust. Without trust, even the best strategies fall flat.' While she crafts strategies for some of the world's wealthiest people and foundations, she's equally attuned to the changing face of wealth, who's wielding it and how that changing client profile makes trust more important than ever before. I sat down with Colton Grant to discuss her rise through the ranks of an industry where she has often been the only woman in the room, her take on the current investment landscape and how she is witnessing and championing a historic shift in who holds financial power. From Dublin to Wall Street: A Global Journey In Smart Investing Colton Grant's career path has followed the broad arc of globalization and financial markets. After beginning in FX trading and currency management, she pivoted into asset allocation and multi-asset portfolios, before joining Barclays Global Investors and then BlackRock. She views those early years as formative, not just in building technical knowledge but in realizing that at the heart of strong investment strategies is the necessity of clear, human communication. 'You can have an amazing investment process, but if you can't articulate it in a way people understand, no one is going to invest with you,' she shares. That skill, which in practice means translating complex systems into human stories, became a cornerstone of her leadership style and one that would see her move between locations and offices before landing in Mellon Capital. There, she helped develop one of the ten largest liquid alternatives mutual funds in the U.S., before joining BNY Mellon as Deputy CIO and stepping into the CIO seat in 2020 at the height of a global pandemic. Sinead Colton Grant, Global Head of BNY Mellon Investor Solutions Smart Investing: Trust, Representation, and Legacy Coltan Grant shares that while on reflection the pandemic era feels like a fever dream, it marked a unique moment in the investment ecosystem, when the personal, political, and economic suddenly converged. For a leader like Colton Grant, who had built her career on human connection and trust, her appointment as CIO couldn't have come at a more defining moment. "Managing wealth, is above all, a human business with trust at the center,' she shares, 'Our clients aren't just investing for themselves. They're thinking about the financial legacy of their families, often over generations.' Increasingly, she notes, those conversations are being driven by a new generation, and a new type of investment profile - women. It's a shift Colton Grant sees first hand, with a front-row seat to a growing wealth transfer, marked by a significant increase in female participation in angel investing, venture capital, and broader financial decision-making. She shares that this represents more than just a demographic shift. 'I meet with more women thinking about the financial legacy of their families, often over generations. It's a mindset shift, and one that's starting to show up in how capital moves and who's deciding where it goes. We are now at a time when most of the wealth from the Silent Generation and Baby Boomers is moving into the hands of women,' she continues. 'That means more women will be making, or solely responsible for major financial decisions, many for the first time.' Catherine Keating CEO BNY wealth and colleagues Ring bell at NYSE 2022 Smart Investing: Women, Wealth, and the Power of Asking Questions For Colton Grant, this means that representation isn't merely a moral imperative, it's a strategic advantage. "Our clients want to see themselves reflected in the people managing their money. Diverse leadership teams make better decisions. It's that simple." That also means that helping more women step into investing has become both a personal mission and an economic imperative. 'Money means freedom," she says. "Our financial markets have built tremendous wealth over time, and it's important that more women participate in that wealth creation by investing. I understand why it makes people nervous, but it doesn't have to be complicated. You can start small, with methods like a low-cost S&P index exposure which can generate strong returns over time." What she wants women to realize is that the ripple effects of investing extend far beyond individual portfolios. Women's increased participation creates a flywheel that benefits the broader macroeconomy. "The data shows that more female investors also lead to more female founders receiving seed capital for their businesses. This is vital given that only 2% of overall venture capital dollars go to female-founded start-ups." Asked about her advice to women with the resources to invest but not sure how or where to start? Her reply echoes the age old investment mantra: there will never be a perfect moment. "Time in the market beats timing the market. So just get started," she says. The Investment Landscape Ahead As for this moment we are in right now, marked by an unprecedented level of workplace and market uncertainty, Colton remains bullish on U.S. markets, citing strong underlying fundamentals, backed by innovation capacity, productivity growth, and healthy earning margins. Her investment philosophy doesn't listen to political noise. "You don't invest with your politics," she says, "You focus on the fundamentals." Sinead Colton Grant, chief investment officer, was featured on Fox Business 'Making Money with ... More Charles Payne' discussing her market outlook and the future of US exceptionalism. July 1, 2025 The AI Tailwind, and What Comes Next In Smart Investing When asked where she thinks the opportunity lies, she shares that there are some clear emerging trends reshaping the industry. Private markets, which have long been the exclusive domain of institutional investors, are now more accessible through evergreen investment vehicles. Digital assets are gaining traction, particularly among younger generations, and, of course, artificial intelligence is a key factor. "2025 will be a 'show me' year," she predicts. "It's not just about tech companies, it's about how AI-driven productivity starts to ripple through sectors like healthcare, energy, and beyond." When asked what advice she'd offer women entering finance, Colton Grant boils it downto three things: Speak up, advocate for yourself- don't assume people will notice your work. Go before you're ready- don't wait to tick every box. Know the difference between mentors and sponsors - mentors offer guidance, but sponsors open doors. Above all, however, Colton Grant shares that her trajectory - from a curious college student intrigued by currency shifts, to a leader at the forefront of finance's biggest transformation - boils down to one undeniable truth: success and smart investing hinges on trust. As she puts it, 'people buy people. Trust is everything.' For Sinead Colton Grant, aligning trust is more than virtue, it's a movement led increasingly by women like her who are reshaping finance from every role: client, leader, founder, and investor.
Fashion Network
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Fashion Network
Stock investors expect rally as Europe clinches US trade deal
John Plassard, head of investment strategy at Cité Gestion, said the deal is 'good enough to unlock what equity markets needed most: visibility.' 'Tariff escalation risk is now off the table, and with that, a major macro overhang disappears. For investors, that's not just a sigh of relief, it's a green light,' he said. Euro Stoxx 50 futures will reopen for trading around 2 a.m. Paris time on Monday. Sectors most exposed to trade, including autos and consumer products, had outperformed Friday as investors were optimistic that an agreement would be reached before the Aug. 1 tariff deadline. European stocks have been range-bound since May due to jitters around the outlook for global trade. The benchmark Stoxx 600 is now 2.3% below its March record high. A UBS basket of stocks sensitive to tariffs has underperformed this year, suggesting there's room for the group to catch up to the broader regional benchmark. 'I do think there will be a relief rally as soon as the details are finalized, and this is a much needed shot in the arm for European stocks as earnings season is in full swing,' said Geoff Yu, a macro strategist for EMEA at BNY Mellon. Focus will be on carmakers, such as Stellantis NV, Volkswagen AG, Mercedes-Benz Group AG and BMW AG, as well as auto parts suppliers like Valeo SE, Forvia SE and Pirelli & C SpA. A gauge for the sector is flat on the year, missing out on Europe's broader rally. Investors will also be watching luxury goods makers including LVMH, Kering SA and Salvatore Ferragamo SpA, given North America is a significant market for the luxury sector. Drinks makers including Diageo Plc, Remy Cointreau and Pernod Ricard will be in focus, as well as shipping stocks such as A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S and Hapag-Lloyd AG, given freight's sensitivity to tariffs. Still, some investors warned that the rally could be short-lived until more details of the trade agreement are announced. 'There's a chance you see markets pick up in the morning and probably sell off again,' said Neil Birrell, chief investment officer at Premier Miton Investors. 'The devil will be in the detail, and it won't all be good for Europe and it won't all be good for the US.' Here's what other market participants are saying: Kallum Pickering, chief economist at Peel Hunt 'People want to bet that the US will strike a series of deals. They're not necessarily good deals, but uncertainty is worse. After we move up a little tomorrow in Europe, markets' attention will turn to Canada and Mexico. Any positive sign that they can strike deals like today's will be good enough for risk on.' Joachim Klement, strategist at Panmure Liberum 'Stock markets will likely rally on this news, but this can only be a sugar high. The fact is that Americans will pay higher tariffs from US imports and face an inflation surge and lower growth in the second half. The EU also faces higher tariffs than the UK, which gives UK exporters an advantage over their European competitors.' Michael Brown, senior research strategist at Pepperstone 'Stocks hardly need much of an excuse to rally right now, and the agreement not only removes a key left tail risk that the market had been concerned about, but also yet again reiterates that the direction of travel remains away from punchy rhetoric, and towards trade deals done. Rumours that the US-China trade truce will be extended for a further 90 days will also help on this front.' 'From a sectoral perspective, European automakers are one of the big winners here, with the 15% tariff also applying to auto imports into the States, a similar carve out to that achieved by Japan. Other obvious winners include US defense names given the EU's purchase commitments on that front, as well as US energy stocks, bearing in mind the almost $1 trillion of spend coming their way.' Mahmood Pradhan, global head of macro at Amundi Asset Management 'We'll probably get some sort of short-term relief rally in the morning, including more short covering. But given where we were pre-Liberation Day, this isn't good news for Europe. Longer-term, it will keep growth subdued in Europe.'
Fashion Network
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Fashion Network
Stock investors expect rally as Europe clinches US trade deal
John Plassard, head of investment strategy at Cité Gestion, said the deal is 'good enough to unlock what equity markets needed most: visibility.' 'Tariff escalation risk is now off the table, and with that, a major macro overhang disappears. For investors, that's not just a sigh of relief, it's a green light,' he said. Euro Stoxx 50 futures will reopen for trading around 2 a.m. Paris time on Monday. Sectors most exposed to trade, including autos and consumer products, had outperformed Friday as investors were optimistic that an agreement would be reached before the Aug. 1 tariff deadline. European stocks have been range-bound since May due to jitters around the outlook for global trade. The benchmark Stoxx 600 is now 2.3% below its March record high. A UBS basket of stocks sensitive to tariffs has underperformed this year, suggesting there's room for the group to catch up to the broader regional benchmark. 'I do think there will be a relief rally as soon as the details are finalized, and this is a much needed shot in the arm for European stocks as earnings season is in full swing,' said Geoff Yu, a macro strategist for EMEA at BNY Mellon. Focus will be on carmakers, such as Stellantis NV, Volkswagen AG, Mercedes-Benz Group AG and BMW AG, as well as auto parts suppliers like Valeo SE, Forvia SE and Pirelli & C SpA. A gauge for the sector is flat on the year, missing out on Europe's broader rally. Investors will also be watching luxury goods makers including LVMH, Kering SA and Salvatore Ferragamo SpA, given North America is a significant market for the luxury sector. Drinks makers including Diageo Plc, Remy Cointreau and Pernod Ricard will be in focus, as well as shipping stocks such as A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S and Hapag-Lloyd AG, given freight's sensitivity to tariffs. Still, some investors warned that the rally could be short-lived until more details of the trade agreement are announced. 'There's a chance you see markets pick up in the morning and probably sell off again,' said Neil Birrell, chief investment officer at Premier Miton Investors. 'The devil will be in the detail, and it won't all be good for Europe and it won't all be good for the US.' Here's what other market participants are saying: Kallum Pickering, chief economist at Peel Hunt 'People want to bet that the US will strike a series of deals. They're not necessarily good deals, but uncertainty is worse. After we move up a little tomorrow in Europe, markets' attention will turn to Canada and Mexico. Any positive sign that they can strike deals like today's will be good enough for risk on.' Joachim Klement, strategist at Panmure Liberum 'Stock markets will likely rally on this news, but this can only be a sugar high. The fact is that Americans will pay higher tariffs from US imports and face an inflation surge and lower growth in the second half. The EU also faces higher tariffs than the UK, which gives UK exporters an advantage over their European competitors.' Michael Brown, senior research strategist at Pepperstone 'Stocks hardly need much of an excuse to rally right now, and the agreement not only removes a key left tail risk that the market had been concerned about, but also yet again reiterates that the direction of travel remains away from punchy rhetoric, and towards trade deals done. Rumours that the US-China trade truce will be extended for a further 90 days will also help on this front.' 'From a sectoral perspective, European automakers are one of the big winners here, with the 15% tariff also applying to auto imports into the States, a similar carve out to that achieved by Japan. Other obvious winners include US defense names given the EU's purchase commitments on that front, as well as US energy stocks, bearing in mind the almost $1 trillion of spend coming their way.' Mahmood Pradhan, global head of macro at Amundi Asset Management 'We'll probably get some sort of short-term relief rally in the morning, including more short covering. But given where we were pre-Liberation Day, this isn't good news for Europe. Longer-term, it will keep growth subdued in Europe.'
Fashion Network
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Fashion Network
Stock investors expect rally as Europe clinches US trade deal
John Plassard, head of investment strategy at Cité Gestion, said the deal is 'good enough to unlock what equity markets needed most: visibility.' 'Tariff escalation risk is now off the table, and with that, a major macro overhang disappears. For investors, that's not just a sigh of relief, it's a green light,' he said. Euro Stoxx 50 futures will reopen for trading around 2 a.m. Paris time on Monday. Sectors most exposed to trade, including autos and consumer products, had outperformed Friday as investors were optimistic that an agreement would be reached before the Aug. 1 tariff deadline. European stocks have been range-bound since May due to jitters around the outlook for global trade. The benchmark Stoxx 600 is now 2.3% below its March record high. A UBS basket of stocks sensitive to tariffs has underperformed this year, suggesting there's room for the group to catch up to the broader regional benchmark. 'I do think there will be a relief rally as soon as the details are finalized, and this is a much needed shot in the arm for European stocks as earnings season is in full swing,' said Geoff Yu, a macro strategist for EMEA at BNY Mellon. Focus will be on carmakers, such as Stellantis NV, Volkswagen AG, Mercedes-Benz Group AG and BMW AG, as well as auto parts suppliers like Valeo SE, Forvia SE and Pirelli & C SpA. A gauge for the sector is flat on the year, missing out on Europe's broader rally. Investors will also be watching luxury goods makers including LVMH, Kering SA and Salvatore Ferragamo SpA, given North America is a significant market for the luxury sector. Drinks makers including Diageo Plc, Remy Cointreau and Pernod Ricard will be in focus, as well as shipping stocks such as A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S and Hapag-Lloyd AG, given freight's sensitivity to tariffs. Still, some investors warned that the rally could be short-lived until more details of the trade agreement are announced. 'There's a chance you see markets pick up in the morning and probably sell off again,' said Neil Birrell, chief investment officer at Premier Miton Investors. 'The devil will be in the detail, and it won't all be good for Europe and it won't all be good for the US.' Here's what other market participants are saying: Kallum Pickering, chief economist at Peel Hunt 'People want to bet that the US will strike a series of deals. They're not necessarily good deals, but uncertainty is worse. After we move up a little tomorrow in Europe, markets' attention will turn to Canada and Mexico. Any positive sign that they can strike deals like today's will be good enough for risk on.' Joachim Klement, strategist at Panmure Liberum 'Stock markets will likely rally on this news, but this can only be a sugar high. The fact is that Americans will pay higher tariffs from US imports and face an inflation surge and lower growth in the second half. The EU also faces higher tariffs than the UK, which gives UK exporters an advantage over their European competitors.' Michael Brown, senior research strategist at Pepperstone 'Stocks hardly need much of an excuse to rally right now, and the agreement not only removes a key left tail risk that the market had been concerned about, but also yet again reiterates that the direction of travel remains away from punchy rhetoric, and towards trade deals done. Rumours that the US-China trade truce will be extended for a further 90 days will also help on this front.' 'From a sectoral perspective, European automakers are one of the big winners here, with the 15% tariff also applying to auto imports into the States, a similar carve out to that achieved by Japan. Other obvious winners include US defense names given the EU's purchase commitments on that front, as well as US energy stocks, bearing in mind the almost $1 trillion of spend coming their way.' Mahmood Pradhan, global head of macro at Amundi Asset Management 'We'll probably get some sort of short-term relief rally in the morning, including more short covering. But given where we were pre-Liberation Day, this isn't good news for Europe. Longer-term, it will keep growth subdued in Europe.'
Fashion Network
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Fashion Network
Stock investors expect rally as Europe clinches US trade deal
John Plassard, head of investment strategy at Cité Gestion, said the deal is 'good enough to unlock what equity markets needed most: visibility.' 'Tariff escalation risk is now off the table, and with that, a major macro overhang disappears. For investors, that's not just a sigh of relief, it's a green light,' he said. Euro Stoxx 50 futures will reopen for trading around 2 a.m. Paris time on Monday. Sectors most exposed to trade, including autos and consumer products, had outperformed Friday as investors were optimistic that an agreement would be reached before the Aug. 1 tariff deadline. European stocks have been range-bound since May due to jitters around the outlook for global trade. The benchmark Stoxx 600 is now 2.3% below its March record high. A UBS basket of stocks sensitive to tariffs has underperformed this year, suggesting there's room for the group to catch up to the broader regional benchmark. 'I do think there will be a relief rally as soon as the details are finalized, and this is a much needed shot in the arm for European stocks as earnings season is in full swing,' said Geoff Yu, a macro strategist for EMEA at BNY Mellon. Focus will be on carmakers, such as Stellantis NV, Volkswagen AG, Mercedes-Benz Group AG and BMW AG, as well as auto parts suppliers like Valeo SE, Forvia SE and Pirelli & C SpA. A gauge for the sector is flat on the year, missing out on Europe's broader rally. Investors will also be watching luxury goods makers including LVMH, Kering SA and Salvatore Ferragamo SpA, given North America is a significant market for the luxury sector. Drinks makers including Diageo Plc, Remy Cointreau and Pernod Ricard will be in focus, as well as shipping stocks such as A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S and Hapag-Lloyd AG, given freight's sensitivity to tariffs. Still, some investors warned that the rally could be short-lived until more details of the trade agreement are announced. 'There's a chance you see markets pick up in the morning and probably sell off again,' said Neil Birrell, chief investment officer at Premier Miton Investors. 'The devil will be in the detail, and it won't all be good for Europe and it won't all be good for the US.' Here's what other market participants are saying: Kallum Pickering, chief economist at Peel Hunt 'People want to bet that the US will strike a series of deals. They're not necessarily good deals, but uncertainty is worse. After we move up a little tomorrow in Europe, markets' attention will turn to Canada and Mexico. Any positive sign that they can strike deals like today's will be good enough for risk on.' Joachim Klement, strategist at Panmure Liberum 'Stock markets will likely rally on this news, but this can only be a sugar high. The fact is that Americans will pay higher tariffs from US imports and face an inflation surge and lower growth in the second half. The EU also faces higher tariffs than the UK, which gives UK exporters an advantage over their European competitors.' Michael Brown, senior research strategist at Pepperstone 'Stocks hardly need much of an excuse to rally right now, and the agreement not only removes a key left tail risk that the market had been concerned about, but also yet again reiterates that the direction of travel remains away from punchy rhetoric, and towards trade deals done. Rumours that the US-China trade truce will be extended for a further 90 days will also help on this front.' 'From a sectoral perspective, European automakers are one of the big winners here, with the 15% tariff also applying to auto imports into the States, a similar carve out to that achieved by Japan. Other obvious winners include US defense names given the EU's purchase commitments on that front, as well as US energy stocks, bearing in mind the almost $1 trillion of spend coming their way.' Mahmood Pradhan, global head of macro at Amundi Asset Management 'We'll probably get some sort of short-term relief rally in the morning, including more short covering. But given where we were pre-Liberation Day, this isn't good news for Europe. Longer-term, it will keep growth subdued in Europe.'
