Latest articles from Analysis & Opinion

Team

Right places, Right time

March 3, 2010

When it decided to sell a slice of copper miner KGHM, Poland's government turned to Deutsche Bank, hoping that it would give the deal a more international approach as well as getting the timing of a potentially delicate deal just right. Writer Edward Russell-Walling

The uncosted rewards of bankers' bonuses

March 3, 2010

A bank employee recently asked me: "As a trader, my bonus is derived directly from my profit and loss, which is accrued over the quarter and kept in a separate account. It does not go into the firm's bottom line and then back out to me. Also, like most traders, I accrue 2% of my gains in a loss provision account in case I have a major write-down in the year. My bonus is 10% of my profit for the year. If I make $50m for the year my bonus is $5m. What does my bonus have to do with the mortgage-backed securities [MBS] trader who is sitting on losses? Did I or did I not show a profit of $40m to the firm's bottom line?"

Russia's ambitious plan for economic reform

February 1, 2010

The economic advisor to the Russian president explains why he is cautiously optimistic about the country's economic prospects for 2010. Interview by Philip Alexander.

Former prime minister Jim Bolger on the promise of Kiwibank

February 1, 2010

The former prime minister of New Zealand and now chairman of New Zealand Post Group's fast-growing Kiwibank believes that the company offers a template for post groups around the world attempting to establish a banking brand. Writer Michelle Price

Nasdaq OMX uses co-location to trade faster

February 1, 2010

The senior vice-president of global IT operations at Nasdaq OMX, Carl Magnus Hallberg, explains how co-location is making trading faster and why exchanges are becoming more like technology companies.

ID please

February 1, 2010

In the drive to improve customer service in banking, the need for better identity tracking is growing. By Chris Skinner

Lloyds

Lloyds recapitalisation was both trailblazing and rehabilitating

February 1, 2010

The £22.5bn recapitalisation of Lloyds Banking Group last November not only kept the institution free from outright government control, but helped to rehabilitate the financial markets. Writer Edward Russell-Walling

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