Latest articles from Karina Robinson

Never mind the shirt, watch the shares

July 4, 2005

Having rewritten Lloyds TSB’s poor growth story, CEO Eric Daniels now wants to strengthen the bank’s franchise, he tells Karina Robinson.

Botín earns her spurs at Banesto

June 6, 2005

Banesto chairman Ana Patricia Botín tells Karina Robinson that the bank’s independence is vital for keeping revenues up.

A head for finance and a palate for pike

May 2, 2005

SocGen CEO Daniel Bouton talks to Karina Robinson about the sense and synergies of cross-border mergers.
Once I got over the disappointment of having lunch in the utilitarian Société Générale tower in the conurbation of La Défense, rather than in a superb Parisian restaurant such as Pierre Gagnaire, it was awfully pleasing on the food front.

Spanish banking jewel’s flexibility makes it a target

May 2, 2005

Banco Popular’s competitors may be gaining ground but the bank is still an attractive acquisition target. Chairman Angel Ron talks to Karina Robinson about strategies for SME and consumer finance business and why he is betting on staying independent.

India cracks the combination for growth

May 2, 2005

The coalition government of Manmohan Singh is determined to transform India. Karina Robinson reports from New Delhi on the progress so far.
The measured interventions in the Lower House of India’s Parliament had come to an end. The wood-panelled chamber of the Lok Sabha slid into orchestrated chaos as the opposition benches emptied and its gesticulating members surrounded the speaker, enthroned in his chair.
Dressed in saris, white dhotis, turbans and Western-style trousers and shirts, the parliamentarians raised their voices about a crisis in the Jharkhand state Parliament.

Private equity provides an escape from regulatory woes

April 4, 2005

Private equity looks like providing an escape for overburdened listed companies. Karina Robinson examines the pros and cons of going private.
Who would be the CEO of a listed company these days? The downsides loom ever larger. The weight of regulation would put Atlas to the test. The expense, far from negligible, is increasing and the press and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) subject the company to a scrutiny that is often negative.

Killer-heeled guard of Botswana’s billions

March 7, 2005

Linah Mohohlo, governor of the Bank of Botswana, talks to Karina Robinson about fighting Aids and watching South Africa .

Defending Russia’s record

January 3, 2005

Alexei Kudrin, Finance Minister of the Russian Federation and The Banker’s Finance Minister of the Year, talked to Karina Robinson in London about the challenges facing the Russian economy in what looks like a defining moment in its path towards becoming a liberal market economy.

On guard against the knocks

January 3, 2005

Morgan Stanley CEO Phil Purcell talks to Karina Robinson about growing the business, making changes and that letter from the SEC.

The winning ways of a profit generator

December 1, 2004

Morgan Stanley’s China business is highly profitable, says co-head of China investment Jonathan Zhu. He tells Karina Robinson, in Beijing, about the bank’s winning strategies.
China may be slowing down as the authorities cut back on credit availability but foreign investment banks’ business is being boosted: as the government puts the brakes on credit, domestic companies are turning abroad for their funds and Morgan Stanley is one of the beneficiaries.
The US-headquartered investment bank ranks number two in Chinese equity capital markets in the year-to-date with a deal value of $2589m, giving it a 19% market share, according to data provider Dealogic.

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