Latest articles from Editor’s blog

Falling oil prices are a slippery slope

January 14, 2015

While consumers are celebrating the recent fall in oil prices, the political and economic ramifications are threatening to destabilise a number of oil-producing economies.

Ring-fencing raises fresh challenges for UK banks

January 6, 2015

Ring-fencing rules in the UK are creating yet more challenges for the country's cross-border banks, which are seeing their operations further fragmented by the new rules.

A turning point for digital

December 16, 2014

As the world's most affluent consumers make the switch to digital, the financial landscape is set to change. And banks that are not nimble enough to adapt are at risk of losing out.

Time for the BRICs to become BRICKs?

November 10, 2014

Kazakhstan's economy is closely tied to that of three of the four BRIC economies – Russia, China and India – so is it time to start calling them the BRICKs?

AQR only the start for a eurozone banking union

October 24, 2014

The results of the European asset quality review are due, but regardless of what they unearth there is still much work to be done before a banking union is a realistic possibility.

The gloves are off in the sovereign debt debate

October 20, 2014

The clauses attached to Kazakhstan's latest sovereign bond show that governments are squaring up to so-called vulture funds in the wake of Argentina's recent default.

View from IMF

Finance becomes victim instead of cause of risk

October 13, 2014

The financial sector may be moving down the list of global risks, but this does not come as much of a relief to the banks themselves, writes Philip Alexander from the IMF and World Bank annual meetings in Washington DC.

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Obituary: Emilio Botín

September 10, 2014

Brian Caplen remembers Santander chairman Emilio Botín, who died in September.

Banks must arm themselves for the age of cyber warfare

September 4, 2014

The dangers of cyber attacks are rapidly becoming apparent to banks, which are having to arm themselves against this new threat at a time when they are already grappling with capital, liquidity and governance risks.

The heat is rising on the interest rate debate

August 22, 2014

The hot topic at this year's annual meeting of central bankers in Jackson Hole, US, will be interest rates – with developed economies still cautious about raising their rates and emerging economies becoming increasingly frustrated by this inaction.

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