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China investments worldwide include some interesting Banks

Colin Henderson

This is a fascinating graphic representation of China’s investments around the world courtesy of Forbes and hat tip to Shaping Tomorrow.  It covers the 5 years between beginning of 2005 and end of 2009.  We all know that relatively landlocked and rapidly growing China is seeking to address future energy and commodity concerns. If you go to the link, you can hover over the bubbles to see the specific investments and their are some interesting ones in the financial sector. US – Visa, Morgan Stanley UK – Barclays South Africa – Standard Bank Three points leapt out at me. the … Continue reading China investments worldwide include some interesting Banks

Business Models

You truly know when a country is dysfunctional when its AIR FORCE goes on strike

Colin Henderson

The always insightful John Mauldin speaks about the crisis that is Greece and the steps towards another banking crisis.  When you have full countries falling apart this is not good for anyone.  The degree of failure inside Greece is astounding, and will only lead to worse before it gets better.  The larger impact is on currencies, interbank lending (again) and banking system confidence if it is first Greece, then Spain and Portugal … then? MACRO-EUROPE: The Titanic is SINKING | Investorsinsight.com There are no good solutions here, only very difficult ones. In order to get financing, Greece must willingly put … Continue reading You truly know when a country is dysfunctional when its AIR FORCE goes on strike

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Major search underway for graduates of Stonier National Graduate School of Banking

Colin Henderson

This request from the American Banking Association.              WASHINGTON – Celebrating a combined history of 125 years of excellence in executive education, Stonier and the National School of Banking are launching a major search for more than 21,000 graduates.   The American Bankers Association’s Stonier National Graduate School of Banking is planning a special reunion for alumni and other leaders of the financial services industry at a special two-day event to mark the occasion, June12-13, 2010 in Philadelphia.             Most of the schools’ graduates hold (or did hold) the title of vice president or senior vice president, while one in five … Continue reading Major search underway for graduates of Stonier National Graduate School of Banking

Economy1 Comment

The World Development Indicators 2010 | World Bank

Colin Henderson

For economists and data geeks, the World Bank is today releasing an impressive document containing a host of statistics and economic facts covering all the worlds economies and showing shifts in key areas as noted below. World Development Indicators 2010 | World Bank WASHINGTON, April 20, 2010 — The World Development Indicators (WDI) 2010, released today, gives a statistical progress toward achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The WDI database, launched along with the World Bank’s Open Data initiative to provide free data to all users, includes more than 900 indicators documenting the state of all the world’s economies. The WDI covers education, … Continue reading The World Development Indicators 2010 | World Bank

AI

Finextra turns 10 !

Colin Henderson

Congratulations to Paul Penrose and the Finextra team on this milestone.  I am sure most readers know Finextra which has created a world class site that for many of us represents the document of record for goings on in financial services.  For those who are not familiar, check it out and finextra.com Now we are ten | finextra Ten years on and 30,000 new stories later, we’re about to emerge from another spectacular market crash, slightly frazzled but in a stronger position than ever before, with the online publishing model vindicated and our monthly page view total fast approaching the … Continue reading Finextra turns 10 !

Business Models, regulation

The Magnetar Trade – otherwise known as ‘The Black Hole”

Colin Henderson

This is a complex article at ProPublica that in simple terms illuminates all that was wrong with CDO’s and synthetic CDO’s. These instruments allowed investment bankers like Magnetar to circumvent insider trading rules.  The story of Goldman Sachs being charged by the SEC for fraud is only the beginning.  Financial reform is the last thing many financiers and bankers will have to worry about as this story takes hold. Magnetar involved all the big names and most are listed here.  You will see many recognisable names, eg. Citi, Wachovia, Deutsche, Lehmans, UBS, Mizuho, JP Morgan.  At this point it appears … Continue reading The Magnetar Trade – otherwise known as ‘The Black Hole”

Uncategorized

The app concept is overblown – its only the first step

Colin Henderson

There is an interesting evolution occurring with apps.  If you don’t have an iPhone this may not be immediately evident.  I was not sold on the concept, and remain somewhat sceptical, but there is no ignoring that apps are a success, on iPhone and now iPad. Cracking the code of apps | ft.com For users, it is also easier to dip in and out of different tasks without having to deal with software or navigate the web. “There’s no desktop file system, there’s no saving and quitting when you’re finished,” says John Poisson, who recently sold his app company to … Continue reading The app concept is overblown – its only the first step

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How bankers took mathematics and misused it

Colin Henderson

Within the world that we (most readers of this blog)  live in, the words "’financial innovation’ means new online banking services or adding pfm capability to banking services online.  Its all about online. The major lesson for me from the credit/banking crisis is what financial innovation actually means to the financial community.  Gillian deals with it in this excellent piece.  Financial innovation to the rest of the world means creation of derivatives. Mathematicians must get out of their ivory towers | ft.com Gillian Tett No longer. In the three years since the financial crisis exploded, financial mathematics has come in … Continue reading How bankers took mathematics and misused it

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Bluecap enters with a novel financing model for Canadian small business

Colin Henderson

I have long predicted that innovation within financial services will come from one or two innovative banks but more likely from new entrants.   This morning a note in linkedin from a friend, Scott Wilson, highlighted his new Canadian company with a model that caught my attention. The typical small business is time starved, suffers cash flow peaks and valleys, and is at the mercy of the larger economy and business cycles.   Bank lending for small business is identical to lending for large businesses, just on a smaller scale.  The rigidity of payment plans in bank products plus the paperwork to … Continue reading Bluecap enters with a novel financing model for Canadian small business

AI

Bank of America launches text banking | Netbanker

Colin Henderson

Jim at Netbanker notes BofA have quietly launched text banking, and it is rolling out in waves.  As Jim points out there is so much more banks can do with mobile.  Everyone has a mobile device in their pocket, enjoy using it and like to interact with it.  Why not take advantage of it, and not just to shift activity to the channel.  that work is largely done.  Mobile offers the potential to build loyalty through  spending and budget assistance type apps.  Ron recently noted his bullishness on PFM’s and I believe the connection of PFM to mobile will be … Continue reading Bank of America launches text banking | Netbanker