Latest articles from Philip Alexander

James Hartop

A changed role for the classic investment banker at UBS

May 1, 2013

UBS undertook one of the more radical post-crisis changes of strategy in 2012, and its head of European advisory, James Hartop, explains how the new structure enables his team to move beyond pure merger and acquisition work.

Technology drives Russian retail banking revolution

Technology drives Russian retail banking revolution

May 1, 2013

Growth rates and returns on consumer lending in Russia are remarkable, but the market demands increasing levels of sophistication to ensure success.

What future for the CFTC?

April 29, 2013

The reauthorisation of the US regulator should be a formality, but the combination of Dodd-Frank implementation and the MF Global failure have made for a deeper discussion of the agency’s future.

Germany’s sleeping sparkassen giant

April 16, 2013
Sparkassen and top 10 German banks

Taken as a single entity, Germany's savings bank sector is the second largest financial institution in the country. And, unlike the country's top 10 banks, it has been growing since 2008.

Foreign banks outperform locals in Russia

April 5, 2013
Foreign banks in Russia - top 10 by return on assets

A number of foreign banks scaled back operations in Russia after the financial crisis, but those that remain are generating very high returns in many cases.

Spain’s prime minister Mariano Rajoy and Hungary’s prime minister Viktor Orban

Transformation continues for European sovereign-linked issuers

April 2, 2013

The European Central Bank has helped assuage fears of an imminent eurozone breakup, but sovereign, supranational and agency debt management officials must still contend with ratings downgrades and difficult political and fiscal situations in a number of countries. The Banker hears from a range of EU issuers both inside and outside the eurozone.

Ina De, JPMorgan

The long view suits JPMorgan as equity market revives

April 2, 2013

JPMorgan has sought to maintain hard-won expertise even during the near closure of European equity capital markets in late 2011 and early 2012. Its regional co-head of equity capital markets explains how continuity has set it up well to capture a nascent revival of new issues.

Crossing over to the other side: Japan’s new prime minister and the new Bank of Japan governor are hoping reverse the country’s two-decade trend of deflation

'Abenomics' puts the yen on alert

April 2, 2013

A new prime minister and Bank of Japan governor, both apparently working in concert, could signal sustained weakness for the yen. But there are some tough psychological barriers to breach.

Opportunities remain amid growing challenges for FX

April 2, 2013

Foreign exchange trading volumes were down in 2012 and the cost of operations is rising, but there are signs that 2013 will be a more promising year for banks with the right offering.

Financial transaction tax misses the target

March 21, 2013

Certain EU member countries want banks to foot the bill for plugging the budget deficit they helped to cause. But the resulting tax looks set to hit the real economy most of all.

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