Chris Skinner's blog Shaping the future of finance

The Mainframe Migration Alliance (MMA) and the Midrange Alliance Program (MAP) will host a meeting on legacy modernization at the Fira Palace Hotel in Barcelona from 1:00 – 4:00 pm on 9 October. The meeting will provide an opportunity to learn more about Microsoft’s plans …

After yesterday’s blog about the state of the markets and the concluding line: "When you see a way of making money with no risks, you see the fool’s gold", I guess the obvious question is: Why didn’t the banks see the fool’s gold?  After all, …

After yesterday’s blog about the state of the markets and the concluding line: "When you see a way of making money with no risks, you see the fool’s gold", I guess the obvious question is: Why didn’t the banks see the fool’s gold?  After all, …

Some totally obvious comments are coming out in the media today. Take the UK’s new Chancellor of the Exchequer (the old one got promoted to Prime Minister) Alistair Darling who is headlined today as saying that banks “need to know who they’re lending to, how …

The headline that caught my attention this morning is the launch of a Prepaid MasterCard by the Sun. For those who are unfamiliar with the UK newspaper, it is the most widely circulated with over three million copies distributed to almost eight million readers, most …

During the weekend, there were lots of reports on the attack by Eric Knight on HSBC’s governance and strategy.  Eric Knight, who is CEO of Knight Vinke Asset Management, is airing his concerns in public, he claims, as a result of the FSA’s Market Watch …

During the weekend, there were lots of reports on the attack by Eric Knight on HSBC’s governance and strategy.  Eric Knight, who is CEO of Knight Vinke Asset Management, is airing his concerns in public, he claims, as a result of the FSA’s Market Watch …

During the weekend, there were lots of reports on the attack by Eric Knight on HSBC’s governance and strategy.  Eric Knight, who is CEO of Knight Vinke Asset Management, is airing his concerns in public, he claims, as a result of the FSA’s Market Watch …

This is not a new news story, but it is a news story.  Banking is a man’s world.    Sounds a bit sexist doesn’t it, but many of us would say that there is still active discrimination in some business sectors on the grounds of …

This is not a new news story, but it is a news story.  Banking is a man's world.   Sounds a bit sexist doesn't it, but many of us would say that there is still active discrimination in some business sectors on the grounds of …

Article 13(5) of MiFID states: "An investment firm shall ensure, when relying on a third party for the performance of operational functions which are critical for the provision of continuous and satisfactory service to clients and the performance of investment activities on a continuous basis, …

Article 13(5) of MiFID states: "An investment firm shall ensure, when relying on a third party for the performance of operational functions which are critical for the provision of continuous and satisfactory service to clients and the performance of investment activities on a continuous basis, …

Just after Finextra publish my thought piece on the future method of authentication being RFID style chip implants inside humans, which I’ve blogged about before btw as I do truly believe it will happen, the Los Angeles Times broke the news that the Terminator’s State …

Just after Finextra publish my thought piece on the future method of authentication being RFID style chip implants inside humans, which I’ve blogged about before btw as I do truly believe it will happen, the Los Angeles Times broke the news that the Terminator’s State …

Just after Finextra publish my thought piece on the future method of authentication being RFID style chip implants inside humans, which I’ve blogged about before btw as I do truly believe it will happen, the Los Angeles Times broke the news that the Terminator’s State …

    Y’know there’s been quite a lot of discussion about the systemic risks in the market right now, particularly in light of the sub-prime issues.  I’ve blogged about this a few times already, from hedge fund pressures through to algo technology explosions, but I …

    Y’know there’s been quite a lot of discussion about the systemic risks in the market right now, particularly in light of the sub-prime issues.  I’ve blogged about this a few times already, from hedge fund pressures through to algo technology explosions, but I …

We talk about pandemics as a result of bird flu and other concerns.  Luckily, we haven’t had one yet but, you never know.  After all, looking around the fellow inhabitants of the world’s subway systems, H G Wells had it right when he referred to …

We talk about pandemics as a result of bird flu and other concerns.  Luckily, we haven’t had one yet but, you never know.  After all, looking around the fellow inhabitants of the world’s subway systems, H G Wells had it right when he referred to …

We talk about pandemics as a result of bird flu and other concerns.  Luckily, we haven’t had one yet but, you never know.  After all, looking around the fellow inhabitants of the world’s subway systems, H G Wells had it right when he referred to …

    The knock-on effect of the American sub-prime crisis goes on and on. According to reports from Data Monitor, it now hits the Indian outsourcing sector. This is because firms such as First Magnus closing their doors to business and filing for bankruptcy then …

    The knock-on effect of the American sub-prime crisis goes on and on. According to reports from Data Monitor, it now hits the Indian outsourcing sector. This is because firms such as First Magnus closing their doors to business and filing for bankruptcy then …

I popped into the British Banker’s Association (BBA) last week and found that they publish a nice long list of statistics about our industry so, in yet another in the numbers series, here’s the low-down on the UK banking sector.  At the end of 2006, …

I was intrigued to see the lack of headlines about American Express this month, especially as they were fined $65 million by the US Department of Justice the other day.  I only caught the news hidden in a US notice about banking matters.  Although it …

I was intrigued to see the lack of headlines about American Express this month, especially as they were fined $65 million by the US Department of Justice the other day.  I only caught the news hidden in a US notice about banking matters.  Although it …

I noticed that the Canadian Bank TD had opened a Facebook group called TD Money Lounge.   Seems to be a pure advert for their products to me, but it’s pretty popular with Canadians with over 3,500 members in this Group which is more than …

I noticed that the Canadian Bank TD had opened a Facebook group called TD Money Lounge.   Seems to be a pure advert for their products to me, but it’s pretty popular with Canadians with over 3,500 members in this Group which is more than …

    I’ve often said that the phrase ‘Bank Innovation‘ is an oxymoron, a bit like military intelligence and honest politicians. This is because innovation means taking risks and banks don’t take risks, although I qualify these statements to say that they apply primarily to …