‘Challenging’ is the new banking euphemism of our times

Second-quarter financial reports use the word repeatedly to describe market conditions and operating environment

As investment banks struggle to adapt to volatile markets and a slowdown in activity, they have adopted a new euphemism to describe the changed world in which they operate: challenging.

Professor Charles Goodhart at the London School of Economics and Political Science recently said: "'Challenging' is the euphemism of our days. What 'challenging' actually means is 'bloody awful'."

WSJ Logo
Europe Draws Up Retaliatory Tariffs for U.S. Goods in Case No Trade Deal Is ReachedExternal link

Europe Draws Up Retaliatory Tariffs for U.S. Goods in Case No Trade Deal Is Reached