There are signs that volume in exchange-traded derivatives is growing faster than over-the-counter products. Frances Maguire examines the drivers behind this trend and the impact of clearing on trading in capital markets.
Standardised exchange-traded contracts have always represented the tip of the iceberg, dwarfed by the volumes carried out by banks over the counter in the form of complex, structured, customised instruments. While this is still the case and both continue to grow, a study – published by Morgan Stanley and Mercer Oliver Wyman in June 2003 – found that for the preceding 18 months, exchange-traded derivatives had grown faster than off-exchange products for the first time in a decade.

The financial sector is finally catching up with the demand for Islamic banking services. This year hopes to see the ground-breaking establishment of the IBB, which will cater to UK Muslims while also hoping to attract business from further afield.

Spain’s two banking giants both suffered loss of market share after recent mergers. SCH’s Enrique García Candelas and BBVA’s Julio López talk to Karina Robinson about their new client-focused strategies, designed to gain lost ground.

South African company Aplitec saw a gap in the payments market and devised a cheaper alternative to the EMV standard. Stuart Theobald explains how this upstart company has stolen a march on the global card giants.
Smart cards have heralded a technical revolution in payments systems across the globe. But the industry smart card standard Europay Mastercard Visa (EMV) is not without its challengers. One that has caught the attention of Visa particularly is a small South African IT company called Aplitec.

The role of the chief information officer has evolved to take on responsibility for many facets of a company. Parveen Bansal talks to Capital One’s Gregor Bailar about this transformation.

ALMA is concerned that some of the IASB’s proposals are not in line
with practice in its member banks and may be too difficult to implement.

Is wireless banking doomed? Not at all, says Chris Skinner. With
WAP technology expected to enjoy a resurgence and the launch of the
next generation of wireless technology, banks should soon see an upturn
in demand.

Firms operating across Europe are prevented from achieving the same
economies of scale as those in the US because of the multiple
jurisdictions in which they have to operate. However, the market is
gradually moving towards “domicile indifference” through pooling funds.
Frances Maguire reports.

Many banks are turning their attention towards their branch networks in
the increasingly stiff competition for a bigger share of customers’
business, say Roy O’Neil and Chris Gentle.