Latest articles from Analysis & Opinion

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 .

Principles in question

March 7, 2005

Momentum is building in favour of sustainability standards but there is still a long way to go. Jane Monahan looks at the state of progress in the implementation of the Equator Principles.
What has sustainability to do with private banks? Their labour policies are good and they do not produce the carbon emissions that are the main culprits of climate change.

Green goals and carbon emissions trading

March 7, 2005

HSBC aims to achieve carbon neutrality this year. As well as a drive to reduce its CO2 emissions, it will consider offsets such as emissions trading, which has the potential to become a free-standing investment market. Jules Stewart reports.
It is not often that a bank makes the news as a champion of the environment. But HSBC, the world’s second-largest bank, has taken on that role with the aim of becoming the world’s first major bank to commit to going carbon neutral.

Banks must change tactics as CSR goalposts shift

March 7, 2005

Corporate social responsibility, which in the past encompassed issues such as fair labour practices and environmental and sustainability concerns, is now increasingly focused on global financial accountability. Banks that comply early will see the benefits, advises Beth Ambrose.

The euro framework must be reformed

March 7, 2005

Dr György Suranyi argues for a new Stability Pact to focus on external accounts and widen the narrowly interpreted fiscal rules.
The euro is a success – despite its governing framework, the Maastricht Treaty and Stability and Growth Pact. Reforming the treaty and pact involves enormous political and economic risks. But not reforming them is even riskier.

Intesa extends its CEE network with Serbian acquisition

March 7, 2005

Delta Banka, Serbia’s second largest bank by assets, has been acquired by Banca Intesa, Italy’s biggest bank. The deal will see Intesa acquire either 75% plus one share or, under certain circumstances, 100% of the voting share capital of Delta Banka. It is expected to close early in the second quarter of 2005 subject to approval by the regulatory authorities in each country.

US budget proposals get a lukewarm reception

March 7, 2005

Reaction to President George W Bush’s latest budget proposals – which were presented to Congress on February 7 – has been mixed, writes Jane Monahan in Washington.

Lawsuit raises online fraud issue for banks

March 7, 2005

A lawsuit filed earlier this month against Bank of America raises the issue of who is responsible for online fraud. A Miami businessman, suing to recover $90,000 allegedly stolen from his account and placed in Latvian-based Parex Bank, has brought the case.

Regulation voted biggest risk

March 7, 2005

The remorseless rise in regulation is seen as the main risk facing banks, according to the latest ‘Banana Skins’ survey from the London think tank CSFI. Regulation was described by many of the 440 bankers and observers from 54 countries surveyed as ‘out of control’ and ‘a serious threat’.

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