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When I first saw Google Maps I thought at the time this would be a good thing for me and my kids to discuss the news, where everything was and what is going on where. What is happening now is to cut me out of the process – even my kids can now instantly see…

Another subject that regularly crops up in my blog is whether banks can be innovative when they are risk averse.  My contention is that banks never lead, they only follow.  As a result, they never innovate because they never create anything.  Now I know some banks do generate new ideas, but it is fairly true…

Share trading on the LSE apparently went wacky today with the wrong prices appearing and showing data higher on the day when today’s session has been lower.  Maybe it’s related to the new systems, MiFID, algo’s and hedge funds … or maybe it’s because banks were coming under pressure from the credit crunch once again,…

Building on yesterday’s theme around identity, banks have a major dilemma (as do all financial firms) and it’s all to do with trust. Banks trade on trust and yet how far can we trust them and how far can they trust us?  Banks don’t trust customers because customers may be fraudsters and it’s hard to…

In the taxi on the way home last night after (another) too long day in the office I was listening to a re-broadcast of what sounded like a BBC program on the current market conditions. I was very pleasantly surprised to hear it actually making sense – the talking heads chosen were happy to correct…

A while ago I wrote that Risk and Technology are the same thing with the theme that both need the bank’s line of business leaders to be on board.  Then, last week, I spent a few days at a risk management conference and what astounded me is how many people work in risk management, and…

Now that many of the banks with some losses in the US sub-prime area have reported it may be a good time to look back at what has happened and then look forward to what is likely to happen over the next 6 to 12 months. Current Situation Looking back, I am glad to be…