Investment Banking

European investment banks stand firm on diversity as Wall Street wavers

Executive orders by US president Trump have put diversity programmes in the cross-hairs. European investment banks are striking a more defiant tone than their US rivals

Trump’s executive orders on diversity have prompted some companies to roll back their programmes. European banks have been more defiant than their Wall Street rivals
Trump’s executive orders on diversity have prompted some companies to roll back their programmes. European banks have been more defiant than their Wall Street rivals Photo: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

European investment banks are sticking to diversity pledges, while US-headquartered firms are facing more pressure to change their programmes in the face of a political shift.

Investment banks headquartered in Europe have so-far resisted any change in sentiment towards their diversity initiatives, despite a more hostile stance from US president Donald Trump, who signed a series of executive orders targeting such programmes in government within days of taking office in January.

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