Chris Skinner's blog

Shaping the future of finance

Regulation

How Goldman Sachs jumped out of the melting pot

ZDNet has just had a bit of a coup with a fascinating article, white paper  and webcast, explaining how Goldman Sachs calculate and manage risk. The webcast finishes with a view that by being involved in selling Credit Default Swaps (CDS) on the one hand whilst moving collateral risks off balance sheet through CDS on…

We believe banks should (not) fail?

I promise to write up more of the Middle Eastern case studies and issues soon, but became distracted because next Monday I’m joining a debate in Ireland. The debate is at the UCC Philosophical Society, one of the largest and oldest debating societies, and they came up with a wonderful motion: “this house believes that…

We believe banks should (not) fail?

I promise to write up more of the Middle Eastern case studies and issues soon, but became distracted because next Monday I’m joining a debate in Ireland. The debate is at the UCC Philosophical Society, one of the largest and oldest debating societies, and they came up with a wonderful motion: “this house believes that…

RBS boss says bonuses “too high”

Today the heads of the UK current banks are in the firing line of the Treasury Select Committee. Stephen Hester, the new head of Royal Bank of Scotland, is joined by Eric Daniels, CEO of Lloyds Banking Group; Antonio Horta-Osorio of Abbey Bank; Paul Thurston, HSBC UK Managing Director; and John Varley, CEO of Barclays…

RBS boss says bonuses “too high”

Today the heads of the UK current banks are in the firing line of the Treasury Select Committee. Stephen Hester, the new head of Royal Bank of Scotland, is joined by Eric Daniels, CEO of Lloyds Banking Group; Antonio Horta-Osorio of Abbey Bank; Paul Thurston, HSBC UK Managing Director; and John Varley, CEO of Barclays…

And a summary of the bankers’ grilling too

For those who missed it like me, here’s a summary of the three hour long Treasury Select Committee meeting yesterday, where Sir Fred Goodwin and Sir Tom McKillop, respectively the former chief executive and chairman of RBS, along with Andy Hornby and Lord Stevenson of Coddenham, the former chief executive and chairman of HBOS, were…

And a summary of the bankers’ grilling too

For those who missed it like me, here’s a summary of the three hour long Treasury Select Committee meeting yesterday, where Sir Fred Goodwin and Sir Tom McKillop, respectively the former chief executive and chairman of RBS, along with Andy Hornby and Lord Stevenson of Coddenham, the former chief executive and chairman of HBOS, were…

Are these the green shoots of recovery?

After billions of dollars in bailouts and bonuses hit the decks, can we finally say that the worst is behind us? Many of us would like to think so, and possibly they could be right. I mean how much of this recession, depression, gaping black hole or whatever you want to call it, still sits…

Alan Greenspan caused this crisis

Back in November 2007, when Alan Greenspan was running around promoting his book, the Age of Turbulence, his kudos was high and standing was great.  It was just a year after leaving office and subprime had hit, but folks thought it was just a $300 billion hole … a mere drop in the ocean. I…

Alan Greenspan caused this crisis

Back in November 2007, when Alan Greenspan was running around promoting his book, the Age of Turbulence, his kudos was high and standing was great.  It was just a year after leaving office and subprime had hit, but folks thought it was just a $300 billion hole … a mere drop in the ocean. I…