United Kingdom - The Banker

Merrill Lynch's orchestration of the EDF purchase of British Energy was one of the most complex and drawn-out deals of its kind ever undertaken. Writer Edward Russell-Walling

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The retail banking industry in the UK has been unsophisticated and lacking in transparency for too long. Now is the time for the banks to move boldly and learn from other retail sectors. Writer Michelle Price.

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London’s role as a global financial centre has been damaged by the current crisis and the UK’s ruling Labour Party must bear some of the responsibility for this. However, there is a political consensus to remedy the situation.

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Understanding UK bank strategies can be difficult. The past year has seen not only Royal Bank of Scotland’s joint acquisition of the Netherlands’ giant ABN AMRO but also the disastrous run on Northern Rock, record 2007 profits at HSBC Holdings and, last month, RBS’s first half-year loss in 40 years, following $11.4bn in writedowns.

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After Barclays failed to gain control of ABN AMRO, president Bob Diamond focuses on the positive elements of the bank’s position. Interview by Brian Caplen.

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On the back of a series of negative press and analyst comments, The Banker catches up with Douglas Flint, group finance director of HSBC, to hear the bank’s explanation.

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