Things we're reading today include ...
Today's must read:
Disappointment ahead for UK — and big test for euro - The Times
"The world’s weakest currency is likely to be the euro as US exporters increase
their global market share mainly at the expense of European rivals, while
Chinese and Japanese manufacturers divert to Europe many of the goods that
they can no longer sell in the US."
Anatole Kaletsky's view on the year ahead (Anatole is one
of the UK's leading commentators on economics)
Virgin prepares for UK banking push - Financial Times
Virgin gets clearance for launch into banking - The Independent
Sir Richard Branson taps Blackstone for assault on Northern Rock - The Telegraph
The woman set to make Virgin shine out in the grey world of banking - The Times
Can Metro Bank inject dynamism into UK banking? - Financial Marketing
Banking armada flies Spanish flag - The Times
People
MP tackles Stephen Hester on 'over-generous' bonuses at RBS - The Telegraph
New bank investors snub Sir Peter Burt - The Independent
Zapatero pushes for EU financial risk board - Euractiv
Companies
Big players not so hefty post-Lehman - Financial Times
UBS data release 'violated law' - BBC
'Taxpayer will be rewarded for rescue of Northern Rock' - The Telegraph
Bill Me Later hit with class-action lawsuit over interest rates - Baltimore Business Journal
Bonuses
Study: Big bonuses killed Bear, Lehman - MSN
Record bonus pot at JP Morgan - The Telegraph
Bankers to face £1m bonus trap - The Times
'Taxing City is ruining UK plc' - The Telegraph
Google's Eric Schmidt on why bankers deserve little sympathy and Obama does - The Telegraph
Economies
UK economy likely to be downgraded, warns Invesco's Neil Woodford - The Telegraph
City confident UK will avoid ratings downgrade - The Times
Financial services set for slowdown - The Independent
Eurozone unemployment hits 10% - BBC
Surprise rise in US job losses - BBC
On Wall Street: Fed frets over QE withdrawal - Financial Times
Quote of the Day:
"I doubt anybody gives a monkey's."
Greg Harris, lecturer in marketing at Cass Business School
Santander races to stamp its name all over Britain's high streets - The Independent
Chris M Skinner
Chris Skinner is best known as an independent commentator on the financial markets through his blog, TheFinanser.com, as author of the bestselling book Digital Bank, and Chair of the European networking forum the Financial Services Club. He has been voted one of the most influential people in banking by The Financial Brand (as well as one of the best blogs), a FinTech Titan (Next Bank), one of the Fintech Leaders you need to follow (City AM, Deluxe and Jax Finance), as well as one of the Top 40 most influential people in financial technology by the Wall Street Journal's Financial News. To learn more click here...