Chris Skinner's blog Shaping the future of finance

TED is a conference that takes place once a year in the USA and is like a Davos for business.  If you don’t know what TED is, then check it out here. The show is also where many of the future technologies are revealed, and …

TED is a conference that takes place once a year in the USA and is like a Davos for business.  If you don’t know what TED is, then check it out here. The show is also where many of the future technologies are revealed, and …

There are various forecasts of the future that may be right or wrong.  For example, this one’s a goodie.  Called EPIC 2014, and nicknamed Googlezon, it forecasts that by 2014 the current media and news organisations are dead and gone, and Google and Amazon merge.  …

There are various forecasts of the future that may be right or wrong.  For example, this one’s a goodie.  Called EPIC 2014, and nicknamed Googlezon, it forecasts that by 2014 the current media and news organisations are dead and gone, and Google and Amazon merge.  …

Read the announcement from Societe Generale here (six page pdf). The rogue trader lost €4.9 billion through a series of fictional transactions.  Societe Generale aren’t naming him, but apparently the trader dealt in plain vanilla European stock market index futures and concealed his losses through …

Read the announcement from Societe Generale here (six page pdf). The rogue trader lost €4.9 billion through a series of fictional transactions.  Societe Generale aren’t naming him, but apparently the trader dealt in plain vanilla European stock market index futures and concealed his losses through …

In this worldwide web of global wonders, I’m getting fairly cheesed off with the number of social networks I’m now getting involved with. From Facebook to LinkedIn to Plaxo to Bebo, they’re all starting to mindmeld into one.  Add in Habbo Hotel, Second Life, Entropia …

In this worldwide web of global wonders, I’m getting fairly cheesed off with the number of social networks I’m now getting involved with. From Facebook to LinkedIn to Plaxo to Bebo, they’re all starting to mindmeld into one.  Add in Habbo Hotel, Second Life, Entropia …

In this worldwide web of global wonders, I’m getting fairly cheesed off with the number of social networks I’m now getting involved with. From Facebook to LinkedIn to Plaxo to Bebo, they’re all starting to mindmeld into one.  Add in Habbo Hotel, Second Life, Entropia …

There have been rumours this week of Citi being bankrupt in Banknet360 and Yahoo’s message boards (see earlier blogs on Yahoo message boards and Citi) "Citi filing for Chapter 11 in the next few days" … oh no! what a headline.  However, according to Here …

There have been rumours this week of Citi being bankrupt in Banknet360 and Yahoo’s message boards (see earlier blogs on Yahoo message boards and Citi) "Citi filing for Chapter 11 in the next few days" … oh no! what a headline.  However, according to Here …

Interesting stats and facts coming out of the hedge fund and private equity worlds this week. First, Hedge Fund Research (HFR) released their year end report of inflows and outflows to the hedge fund markets in 2007.  The headline is that The hedge fund industry …

Interesting stats and facts coming out of the hedge fund and private equity worlds this week. First, Hedge Fund Research (HFR) released their year end report of inflows and outflows to the hedge fund markets in 2007.  The headline is that The hedge fund industry …

Interesting stats and facts coming out of the hedge fund and private equity worlds this week. First, Hedge Fund Research (HFR) released their year end report of inflows and outflows to the hedge fund markets in 2007.  The headline is that The hedge fund industry …

HSBC sent out a press release yesterday announcing that they are re-naming the "Corporate, Investment Banking and Markets Division".  It will now be called "Global Banking and Markets".  Global Banking and Markets comprises five main businesses: Global Banking, Global Markets, Global Asset Management, Global Research …

HSBC sent out a press release yesterday announcing that they are re-naming the "Corporate, Investment Banking and Markets Division".  It will now be called "Global Banking and Markets".  Global Banking and Markets comprises five main businesses: Global Banking, Global Markets, Global Asset Management, Global Research …

Little Britain, the UK comedy show, made a character that you may think is extreme.  Her name is Carol, and she works for a fictional bank, Midwest.  The way the sketch works is that each time a customer comes into the bank, she rattles away …

Little Britain, the UK comedy show, made a character that you may think is extreme.  Her name is Carol, and she works for a fictional bank, Midwest.  The way the sketch works is that each time a customer comes into the bank, she rattles away …

Little Britain, the UK comedy show, made a character that you may think is extreme.  Her name is Carol, and she works for a fictional bank, Midwest.  The way the sketch works is that each time a customer comes into the bank, she rattles away …

In an interesting article in the NYTimes, IBM’s optimistic and upbeat assessment for a 15%+ rise in profits in 2008 is questioned.  Answer: IBM’s not reliant on the depressed American economy but is making shedloads in the BRIC economies and from banks.  Here’s the bit …

I was looking at mobile finance this week, as we had a meeting to discuss this at the Financial Services Club last night.  In the meeting, Samee Zafur of Edgar, Dunn and Company outlined results of research he has led into mobile finance.  The research …

After my doom and gloom week, I thought this was a good title for a blog entry although this is not me talking … rather it seems to be a campaign with a certain associate editor and chief economics commentator at the Financial Times named …

After my doom and gloom week, I thought this was a good title for a blog entry although this is not me talking … rather it seems to be a campaign with a certain associate editor and chief economics commentator at the Financial Times named …

Most people think the marketing of financial stuff is as dull as dishwater.  Maybe that’s why the Goldfish are cleaning the waters to allow the fish to swim freely … what am I talking about? Goldfish.  Goldfish is a credit card that’s been available in …

Most people think the marketing of financial stuff is as dull as dishwater.  Maybe that’s why the Goldfish are cleaning the waters to allow the fish to swim freely … what am I talking about? Goldfish.  Goldfish is a credit card that’s been available in …

My last blog referred to the Wall Street Journal, and I suddenly realised that I could get this stuff for free … what’s happening?  It used to cost me an arm and a leg for a view of the WSJ? Ahhh … they’ve made bits …

My last blog referred to the Wall Street Journal, and I suddenly realised that I could get this stuff for free … what’s happening?  It used to cost me an arm and a leg for a view of the WSJ? Ahhh … they’ve made bits …

Absolutely nothing to do with banking but, with all this doom and gloom around, I just thought this plea for help was so funny that it was worth sharing.  It’s apparently a true email exchange between a witty but sarcastic member of the public and …