Chris Skinner's blog Shaping the future of finance

The Bank of England (“the Bank”) released their Financial Stability Report today … or should we rename this the Financial Instability Report as that’s what we’ve seen for the last few months. The Report reviews the UK banking system every six months and started back …

Thanks to Information Week for pointing out the top internet hoaxes of all time. First, is the discovery of BigFoot.  Yep, a dead Sasquatch was found in Georgia.  The movie proves it: Then there’s Snowball, the mutant cat: and there’s the last tourist to enjoy …

Thanks to Information Week for pointing out the top internet hoaxes of all time. First, is the discovery of BigFoot.  Yep, a dead Sasquatch was found in Georgia.  The movie proves it: Then there’s Snowball, the mutant cat: and there’s the last tourist to enjoy …

The World Economic Forum (WEF) released their Global Competitiveness Report last week.  Compiled by Michael Porter of Harvard University and Klaus Schwab of the WEF, it clearly shows the impact of the last year’s market turbulence.   In the preface, Klaus Schwab sums up the …

The World Economic Forum (WEF) released their Global Competitiveness Report last week.  Compiled by Michael Porter of Harvard University and Klaus Schwab of the WEF, it clearly shows the impact of the last year’s market turbulence.   In the preface, Klaus Schwab sums up the …

The World Economic Forum (WEF) released their Global Competitiveness Report last week.  Compiled by Michael Porter of Harvard University and Klaus Schwab of the WEF, it clearly shows the impact of the last year’s market turbulence.   In the preface, Klaus Schwab sums up the …

On Thursday 23rd October, I received an email newsletter from VRL Publishing with the headline titled: "HSBC stands out from the crowd”. Here’s the opening paragraph:   “HSBC’s near-unparalleled strength in the face of the tornadoes blowing through global financial markets has been re-emphasised with …

On Thursday 23rd October, I received an email newsletter from VRL Publishing with the headline titled: "HSBC stands out from the crowd”. Here’s the opening paragraph:   “HSBC’s near-unparalleled strength in the face of the tornadoes blowing through global financial markets has been re-emphasised with …

I received this image on email the other day: This was when the dollar was trading at over $2 to the £1. Now I got this image: Yep, you guessed it.  The £1 is now only worth $1:50 … and that was just a 20 …

I received this image on email the other day: This was when the dollar was trading at over $2 to the £1. Now I got this image: Yep, you guessed it.  The £1 is now only worth $1:50 … and that was just a 20 …

Barack Obama apparently raised $150 million in campaign funds in September, and now you can see where he’s spending that wad of dosh. In a sequel to the Budweiser Wassup adverts from a decade ago, he makes a few key points about the economy, the …

Barack Obama apparently raised $150 million in campaign funds in September, and now you can see where he’s spending that wad of dosh. In a sequel to the Budweiser Wassup adverts from a decade ago, he makes a few key points about the economy, the …

Barack Obama apparently raised $150 million in campaign funds in September, and now you can see where he’s spending that wad of dosh. In a sequel to the Budweiser Wassup adverts from a decade ago, he makes a few key points about the economy, the …

After my post the other day about bank layoffs, the news that Goldman Sachs were to layoff 10% of their 32,500 staff led to Here is the City posting a definitive list of the layoffs from all banks.  Here’s a small selection:   %age of  …

I just found this list of the best Corporate Social Media and Networks today.  Amazingly long list that is short of bank examples.  Here are the few financial links which includes both the good, the bad and the ugly: Accuquote: Blogging:  Life Insurance blog. Podcasting:  …

I just found this list of the best Corporate Social Media and Networks today.  Amazingly long list that is short of bank examples.  Here are the few financial links which includes both the good, the bad and the ugly: Accuquote: Blogging:  Life Insurance blog. Podcasting:  …

I chaired a dinner this week on speeds, feeds and latency in the City’s Capital Markets. Fascinating stuff all about the latest Multilateral Trade Facilities (MTFs) and how Chi-X and Turquoise claim to be ripping up the old exchange models by processing trades in 2 …

I chaired a dinner this week on speeds, feeds and latency in the City’s Capital Markets. Fascinating stuff all about the latest Multilateral Trade Facilities (MTFs) and how Chi-X and Turquoise claim to be ripping up the old exchange models by processing trades in 2 …

I was in Ireland yesterday.  As always, the humour and hospitality of my Irish friends was second-to-none as illustrated by this cartoon from the Irish Independent:

I was in Ireland yesterday.  As always, the humour and hospitality of my Irish friends was second-to-none as illustrated by this cartoon from the Irish Independent:

Someone commented on my last blog that it’s just me getting older.  Looking at the latest E*TRADE ad, I see what they mean …

Someone commented on my last blog that it’s just me getting older.  Looking at the latest E*TRADE ad, I see what they mean …

Having spent the last month virtually non-stop talking about the doom and gloom of the stock markets and the financial industry, I thought I’d be much more positive today and talk about technology. I grew up in the technology industry and love technology. For years, …

Russia claims that it’s had little impact from the financial crisis, with banks growing at double digits and the Kremlin’s coffers remaining strong. This week Anna Smolchenko, a reporter with the Moscow Times, writes that Prime Minister Putin states: “On the whole, our economy is …

Russia claims that it’s had little impact from the financial crisis, with banks growing at double digits and the Kremlin’s coffers remaining strong. This week Anna Smolchenko, a reporter with the Moscow Times, writes that Prime Minister Putin states: “On the whole, our economy is …

On September 15th, Lehman Brothers collapsed with $613 billion worth of debt. Today, that debt is unravelled and the winners and losers sorted out. Tomorrow, we can move on. Or can we? Read more …

On September 15th, Lehman Brothers collapsed with $613 billion worth of debt. Today, that debt is unravelled and the winners and losers sorted out. Tomorrow, we can move on. Or can we? Read more …

For all those who have kept up with my rants about Microsoft and Vista, I’ve stopped. I stopped because it was getting boring and, although I still have problems, there are a lot less since Service Packs and Updates by the day have settled the …