From struggle to innovation, our mid-year issue takes stock of the turbulent few months so far and anticipates the opportunities and challenges ahead.

Midyear is the time I look forward to most: the cold of winter is behind us, spring is in full swing, and the peace of seasonal summer is just around the corner. This is the perfect time to take stock of where we have been and consider what comes next.

It has been an eventful year so far – the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, the outbreak of war in the Middle East, and border skirmishes between India and Pakistan, to name a few examples.

Innovation and second-half slate

Like a fulcrum, the midyear point also provides an opportunity to look ahead. There’s a lot to be excited about: Elon Musk’s SpaceX is poised to become the largest initial public offering in history; The World Cup will land in North America; US-Mexico-Canada agreement up for renewal; And an old friend, El Nino, is expected to make an appearance.

With all this in mind, what are financial services professionals doing to save their business for the rest of the year? In our cover story, Deborah Ritchie examines how chief financial officers are positioning their companies for the second half as the war in the Middle East continues.

World Cup fans will appreciate our Global Salon quiz with sports finance expert Laurie Pinto, who breaks down the real game: chasing the money.

Our newest contributor, Rocco Pendola, an American living in Spain, gives us a first-hand look at one of the EU’s best-performing economies.

And Charles Wallace plunged into the deep waters of private loan default rates.

Of course, the mainstay is our triple-award package: Innovators, Innovation and Innovation Labs. Congratulations to the winners, and special thanks to everyone who entered.

We believe we’ve packed much to reflect on and look forward to in our midyear issue, as fast-moving events are reshaping the global status quo.

This article is published in the June 2026 issue global finance magazine.