Latest News

Misfortune for oldest name in travel business, sigh of relief for others - Derivatives & it’s protective benefits

October, 2019

One of the oldest names in the travel business has collapsed due to bad business decisions, inability to adapt and integrate to new technology for competing in this burgeoning digital world of travel business.

A Trade War on Equities-Equity investors & traders on red alert

September, 2019

When Trump started a trade war with China, he put all equity investors and traders on red alert. Equity markets are affected dramatically by global trade. The initial knee jerk reaction was to sell China stocks as they face the initial brunt of the trade war, but after that the negative effect seeps out into China’s biggest trading partners and Asia in particular.

Currency Manipulation or Plain Politics?

September, 2019

America claims China is manipulating its currency and will engage with the IMF to eliminate unfair competition. This follows the USDCNY breach of the psychological 7 level. This is more a symbolic move than a substantive one, but it dials up the pressure in a trade war that has rapidly escalated into a currency war, harming businesses, consumers and others that depend on steady relations between the world’s two largest economies.

The Fallout from 1MDB

August, 2019

Anyone thinking that 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal was done and dusted, think again.

Equity Markets

August, 2019

Equity markets are the heartbeat of a country’s economy. In many ways, you need to look no further than levels of a nations, primary stock index to get a sense of how the country’s economics are.

Financial Management and its importance in financial services industry

July, 2019

Financial Management is a vital activity in any organization. It is the process of planning, organizing, controlling and monitoring financial resources with a view to achieve organizational goals and objectives. Without it, banks or corporates may overstretch and fail for the wrong non-business reasons or miss out on great opportunities for growth. The three main types of financial management decisions are capital budgeting, capital structure, and working capital management. A business transaction that would include capital budgeting affects if a company or bank consider branches expansion.

Swaps - nothing is more powerful or relevant for client’s hedging

July, 2019

Swaps - nothing is more powerful or relevant for client’s hedging

Basel III is coming

June, 2019

Basel 3 is arriving, there is no doubt on that, but is it a perfect fit for all? Is it a simple plug and play for all banks, for all countries? And how are banks shaping up to meet the new demands on them?

Oil is at a crossroads – what’s next from here- 40 or 100, it’s a pretty even bet?

June, 2019

 Oil is at a crossroads – what’s next from here- 40 or 100, it’s a pretty even bet? 

DLT – is already in heavy use in banks for FX transactions

May, 2019

 DLT – is already in heavy use in banks for FX transactions 

The slow death of LIBOR and its multiple consequences

May, 2019

The slow death of LIBOR and its multiple consequences

Bonds are all the rage again-or are they?

May, 2019

Bonds are all the rage again-or are they?

Acquiring Private Banking clients and how to manage their relationships once you snag them

April, 2019

Acquiring Private Banking clients and how to manage their relationships once you snag them

Leadership and values make a difference to the bottom line

April, 2019

Recent years in the banking, and financial industry as a whole, have reinforced the sad fact that sometimes people (previously good or bad) do bad things. Fixing abuses, miss-selling, fraud, operational errors. If there is a will there is a way, as they say, and human beings seem to find a way when really, we don’t want them too as it leads often to maximum financial and reputational damage for the employers.

Crypto Currency enters mainstream trading

March, 2019

At a time when crypto’s are under fire from a performance perspective the move towards mainstream acceptance is continuing at its own pace. CME launched BTC futures back in Dec 2017 and the nascent BTC derivatives market remains tiny in comparison to Fiat currency pairs volumes. But in the race to establish the main BTC future contract, CME is clearly leading the way in BTC volumes (see chart below).

Asset Management – whether passive or active management, assets under management are growing but they are also getting more concentrated

March, 2019

The big continue to get bigger with the top 500 fund managers in the world growing assets by 15.6 percent last year - the most significant increase since 2009 with the top 20 firms managing a large portion (43%). This is a continuing trend with the market growing and becoming more concentrated.

Cyber Crime and Money Laundering – a dangerous marriage for all in finance

February, 2019

All Banks are acutely aware of the importance of Cyber Security and of AML defenses. Increasingly though the two are often combined by criminals aiming to benefit illegally at the cost of financial institutions. It is becoming a huge issue in not just money stolen or transferred illegally, but in cost to the global economies. A McAfee report last year estimated a $600 billion global cost.

Cybersecurity front and center!

February, 2019

Anyone working in financial institutions should be aware of how important cyber security is to any organization.

Is the pendulum swinging back to WM products in China?

January, 2019

Shiny yellow metal and its place in a portfolio

January, 2019

When constructing a balanced portfolio, you would normally have a percentage in precious metals, usually Gold.

2019 is approaching and Equities don’t know which way to turn

December, 2018

 2019 is approaching and Equities don’t know which way to turn 

Blockchain and Crypto’s finding their way into mainstream exchange traded products

November, 2018

Blockchain and Crypto’s finding their way into mainstream exchange traded products

Brexit Woes – will they ultimately mean rich pickings for other Derivative centres?

November, 2018

Brexit Woes – will they ultimately mean rich pickings for other Derivative centres?

Understanding causes and effects in markets

October, 2018

Understanding causes and effects in markets

Treasury and Liquidity Management – the unsung hero

October, 2018

Treasury and Liquidity Management – the unsung hero

You never know the value of a good Operational Risk policy until the lack of one bites you, and Europe is in the middle of a swathe of bites.

October, 2018

You never know the value of a good Operational Risk policy until the lack of one bites you, and Europe is in the middle of a swathe of bites.

Regulatory demands touch everybody in Financial Institutions, and they touch them everywhere!

October, 2018

Regulatory demands touch everybody in Financial Institutions, and they touch them everywhere!

It’s all Greek to me

October, 2018

It’s all Greek to me

Agile thinking and Finance – can they work together?

September, 2018

Agile is not a new technique for managing teams and projects, it first surfaced in 2001. But it has become a hot and trendy methodology in recent years. But do projects in finance fit with using an agile methodology.

BPO Services in demand, and skill sets required are moving up the curve

September, 2018

BPO Services in demand, and skill sets required are moving up the curve

Equity Bull Run – it’s been 9 years of merriment

September, 2018

Equity Bull Run – it’s been 9 years of merriment 

Sexual harassment takes many forms and is still a problem in financial institutions – What to do about it?

September, 2018

Sexual harassment takes many forms and is still a problem in financial 

Socially responsible investing and Green bonds are growing in importance

September, 2018

Socially responsible investing and Green bonds are growing in importance

Islamic Finance is spreading

August, 2018

Islamic Finance is spreading

The Return of MBS

August, 2018

The Return of MBS

Cyber Security – Good News and Bad News

August, 2018

Cyber Security – Good News and Bad News

Herd mentality in danger of trampling on the bulls

August, 2018

Herd mentality in danger of trampling on the bulls

Option Hedging in the Oil Market Will the U.S. Yield Curve Invert?

July, 2018

Option Hedging in the Oil Market

Will the U.S. Yield Curve Invert?

Here we go again… Currency wars anybody?

July, 2018

Here we go again… Currency wars anybody?

Corporate Actions, order out of the chaos is a must

July, 2018

Corporate Actions, order out of the chaos is a must

Fintech is Not Coming – It is Here

July, 2018

Fintech is Not Coming – It is Here

Big or Small, Bank or Staff – Anti-Money Laundering Protection is Critical

July, 2018

Big or Small, Bank or Staff – Anti-Money Laundering Protection is Critical

Asian Equities. You are not alone

June, 2018

Asian Equities. You are not alone

HSBC claims first trade-finance deal with blockchain

June, 2018

HSBC claims first trade-finance deal with blockchain

A rising dollar and the risks it poses Commodities volatility: a bumpy ride in prospect M&A: 2018 deals promise record year

May, 2018

A rising dollar and the risks it poses

Commodities volatility: a bumpy ride in prospect

M&A: 2018 deals promise record year

February’s inflation surprise and surge in equity volatility Big data, artificial intelligence and machine learning The LIBOR-OIS spread is widening. Any concerns?

March, 2018

February’s inflation surprise and surge in equity volatility

Big data, artificial intelligence and machine learning

The LIBOR-OIS spread is widening. Any concerns?

What lies ahead for the financial markets in 2018 Equity markets – Will they rise or fall in 2018? Bubbles in markets? We wouldn’t be that foolish this time!

January, 2018

What lies ahead for the financial markets in 2018

Equity markets – Will they rise or fall in 2018?

Bubbles in markets? We wouldn’t be that foolish this time!

Digital Learning Market Analysis Fosway 9-GridTM

January, 2018

Digital Learning Market Analysis

Fosway 9-Grid^TM