Editing a magazine that has reached the venerable age of 80 demands a certain amount of humility. A publication can last 20 or 30 years with founders’ enthusiasm and connections still pushing it along.
Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s start 2006 facing charges of running a duopoly – and some tough questioning. Their only hope? To come up with a solution before the US government imposes one.
Most of China’s population live in the countryside and these are also its poorest citizens, making rural development one of the government’s top agenda items. Finance minister Jin Renqing explains.
The $2.8bn sukuk issue of Dubai’s Ports Customs and Free Zone Corporation (PCFC), the world’s biggest-ever Islamic bond issue, is likely to be oversubscribed by at least 50%-75%.
Charlie McCreevy, EU commissioner for the internal market and services, tells Karina Robinson of his fight against growing protectionism.
“Oh God, she definitely wants to get me sacked!” exclaims the European Union commissioner for the internal market and services, covering his blushing face with his hands, on being asked whether the EU would be better off without France.
With a fourth consecutive year of global economic growth a real prospect, The Banker heralds the world’s best central bank governors who are standing up to their more profligate political masters and forcing through the still-necessary reforms.
Swings to the political left, eurozone preparation and banking crises. The Banker’s selection of the world’s LEADING FINANCE MINISTERS reveals that canny, dual management of the political and economic spheres is a prerequisite for the job.
Stephen Timewell traces eight decades of The Banker, which has reflected global historical changes through the years, and he profiles its founder, Brendan Bracken, whose influence is still felt today.
For eight decades The Banker has been a prime source of global financial intelligence and a window on the world’s key banking and economic developments. Rarely do magazines reach such a venerable age – and even more rarely do they maintain the vision and thrust of their founders.
Brendan Bracken was an extraordinary individual who in his distinct, curious way made an indelible mark on the 20th century and beyond. Not only was he the founding editor of The Banker in 1926, marking the start of an illustrious publishing career that included chairmanship of the Financial Times from 1945-1958, but as a loyal confidant of Winston Churchill he had a remarkable political career, too.
With demographic change and globalisation presenting fresh challenges, Rodrigo de Rato explains how the 60-year-old International Monetary Fund is adapting itself to new paradigms.
In 80 years the world’s financial markets and the corporate landscape have been transformed out of all recognition. Somewhere along the way Eurobonds, financial futures, securitisation and derivatives were all invented. But by whom? Geraldine Lambe tracked down some of the great innovators of the past few decades and talked to them about the times when long-dated floating rate notes were regarded as dangerous products, the futures business meant pork bellies and orange juice, and a $1m fee was considered outrageous.
Lessons from the 20th century teach the oil industry how to deal with the challenge of volatility and rising demand, says Opec president Sheikh Ahmad Fahad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah.
The rise of the multinational company began in 1945, and just kept going. Frances Maguire looks at the impact the multinational has had on the globalisation of banking and on treasury and cash management systems over the decades.
Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz outlines the tortuous process of ditching socialist operating modes that ex-communist banks were forced to endure in order to become the competitive institutions they are today.
Terry Baker-Self describes the evolution of The Banker’s world listings and how the way they are assessed has reflected changes in bank practices and industry regulations over the years.
Of all the forms of operational risk, compliance officers are most concerned with regulatory risk. Why? Because the consequences of getting it wrong can be so severe, writes Michael Imeson.
High quality data is essential for good operational risk management but finding it can be difficult without access to a shared database. Michael Imeson explains.
Staff are the major perpetrators of fraud on companies. Michael Imeson outlines the importance of sound operational risk policies and procedures in preventing, detecting and investigating internal fraud.
What are the recent trends and economic prospects that are shaping investment and the financial sector? Silvia Pavoni quizzes top bankers from around the world.
China’s rapid economic growth and transformation continues apace. But can its banks can keep up with such accelerated growth? Stephen Timewell reports.
IMF prescriptions have been discarded, making way for an African-owned plan, based on good governance, infrastructure investment and intra-regional trade. James Eedes explains.
A referendum on severing links with the UK, entry into a regional single market and the hosting of the Cricket World Cup – all by 2007. Tom Blass reports.
After several recessions, Barbados is bouncing back, and the government’s moves to strengthen the financial sector and bring in foreign investment are paying off.
Barbados is a bellwether for a new phenomenon – the growth of Caribbean pan-regional banks through the acquisition of local players. Tom Blass explains.
Barbados has succeeded in its plan to become a regional international business hub and attract a host of different enterprises by ensuring its legal framework and tax system are both robust and transparent.
Marion Williams: central bank governor says Barbados must maintain a reputation for transparency
Barbadian bankers are of one mind that a light touch regime combined with transparency is better than a ‘no-tax and secrecy’ culture. Tom Blass explains.
Sugar, the sweet and sticky stuff, once king of Barbados, has been well and truly usurped. Low world prices, combined with cuts in the European Union’s preferential prices, will make it difficult to compete in world sugar markets in any meaningful way.
A booming population and widespread immigration is fuelling worldwide growth. CSFB head of research Giles Keating looks at the likely impact on the global economy.
Wendy Atkins reports on the worldwide shift by national post offices away from their traditional restricted roles to become providers of commercially driven products.
For the past 20 years banks have constructed ever more elaborate IT systems, which have rarely boosted profits. They must now replace them with simpler, cheaper infrastructures, says Nicholas Carr.
Dan Barnes follows the historical path of the technology that has allowed banking to progress in the past 80 years and looks at what lies ahead in the next 20 years.
Although bullish when discussing the competition, BT Radianz’s CEO is acutely aware of the importance that relationships have to play in his vision for the company’s future. Dan Barnes explains.
When the Payment Services Directive begins to bite, Italians will open bank accounts in The Netherlands to avoid high charges and banks will lose a fortune. Chris Skinner examines the true nature of its teeth.
