This is a terrific piece from McKinsey that summarises many of the things we read about in the context of changes at play in the world.  I firmly believe we are in the midst of a latter day industrial revolution but it needs a better definition than that, and this kind of piece breaks it down into understandable chunks that capture various aspects of things we are reading about. We all speak of globalisation and these five forces nicely capture the implications and results.  For example something I have been reading a lot about is the concept of ‘market state’ … Continue reading Five crucibles of change will restructure the world economy for the foreseeable future | McKinsey

Nice overview from Economist on 2009 bank results.  So much for too big to fail. Technorati Tags: banks,bank profits Continue reading Banks with the biggest profits and losses | Economist

I saw this and had to check myself.  Turns out 5 of my Linkedin connections are connected to connections of Anna Chapman.  She is one of the 10 Russian Spies charged in US this week.  One is Robert Scoble, but then Robert is probably connected to everyone.  It also shows the inherent weakness in the ‘connected to connections’ model.  Connections even once removed capture a lot of people. Check it out.  Her profile is in the link below and she only has 147 connections so they were picked with some thought presumably and given her mandate to seek intelligence and … Continue reading Connections of Anna Chapman on Linkedin

This is a bit of a surprise with all directions pointing to increased capital requirements. 33% of banks have gone to the market to raise capital or will go to market to raise capital | Grant Thornton CHICAGO, June 24, 2010 – According to Grant Thornton LLP’s 17th Bank Executive Survey, conducted in conjunction with Bank Director magazine, one-third (33%) of bankers said that their bank was very likely to go the market to raise capital in the next 12 months (22%) or has already successfully gone to the market to raise capital (11%). Technorati Tags: banks,capital,regulation,grant thornton Continue reading Few banks are going to market to raise capital

For economic wonks here is a lengthy and broad interview this morning with Larry Summers. He paints a positive picture that America has turned the corner, is producing jobs, and progressing well.  On the question of stimulus versus consolidation, he makes the point that a country with growth has a greater chance of being in control of its own destiny.  He notes that non growth countries find it very hard to maintain a positive financial picture (alluding to Japan). He talks specifically about the origins of G20 and how he and Paul Martin were the originals in setting that up. … Continue reading Chrystia Freeland interviews Larry Summers

Turns out the shaking felt at this conference at 1:45pm EST was a 5.5 earthquake centred in Quebec.  Some of my leftie colleagues are already blaming Stephen Harper and of course George Bush even though the latter is not at this G20.             Technorati Tags: earthquake,G20 Continue reading Not a good time to be beneath a large chandelier!