Four shortlisted titles explore banking, artificial intelligence, and technological progress, with a $10,000 prize for the winner
Apex Group Ltd. (“Apex Group”), a global financial services provider with more than $3.5 trillion in assets serviced, and Global Custodian have announced the four books shortlisted for the second annual Financial Markets Book of the Year award.
The award honours authors whose work helps investors, institutions and policymakers understand the changes shaping finance, asset management and investment.
The shortlisted books are:
It’s About Tyme: Banking Beyond Borders by Adrian Saville and Bruce Whitfield
The Thinking Machine by Stephen Witt
Generative AI for Trading and Asset Management by Ernest P. Chan and Hamlet Jesse Medina Ruiz
How Progress Ends: Technology, Innovation, and the Fate of Nations by Carl Benedikt Frey
The winner will be announced during Abu Dhabi Finance Week, taking place from December 7-10, 2026. The winning title will be selected by an independent panel of nine judges from the financial services industry, media, and academia.
The winning author will receive $10,000, and Apex Group will purchase 200 copies of the winning book for distribution to clients.
Bhaskar Dasgupta, Chairman of the Apex Board (ME and India), said:
“The best financial writing challenges how we think about markets and the decisions we make within them. This year’s shortlist examines how banking models, artificial intelligence, and technological progress are changing finance. Through this award, we want to bring those perspectives to a wider industry audience and encourage informed debate about what comes next.”
Jonathan Watkins, Publisher at Global Custodian, said:
“Good books give readers the space to examine ideas beyond the daily news cycle. These four titles offer distinct perspectives on subjects that matter to our readers, from innovation in banking to the use of AI in investment management. We are pleased to partner with Apex Group for the award’s second year and recognise writing that deepens the industry’s understanding.”
Newsroom
Marion Janic I Head of Media Relations
About Apex Group
Apex Group helps fund managers and institutions take charge of their future through its single-source solution. Apex scales with its clients across the value chain, from fund structuring to operations and distribution. Established in Bermuda in 2003, Apex has continually disrupted the industry through its investment in innovation and talent. Today, it services $3.5tn+ in assets and employs 13,000+ specialists across 50+ countries.
Apex connects data to elevate intelligence by bringing operations, technology, and distribution into a single, unified ecosystem. That means fewer silos and better decision-making.
Apex gives clients access to a technology stack that flexes around their needs and anticipates challenges, supported by specialists across jurisdictions and asset classes. Across AllFi, Apex bridges traditional and decentralised finance. Every member of the Apex team delivers the insights and adaptability needed to navigate the rapid changes affecting today’s businesses.
Most importantly, Apex helps managers chart a direct pathway to growth as the only single-source provider connecting them to new investors, markets, and opportunities.
Apex’s expertise, scale, and innovative technology are propelling fund and asset servicing forward and enabling its clients to take control of their future prosperity. Its vision also extends beyond the industry. The Apex Foundation reflects its passionate commitment to empowering sustainable change.
