Regulation

Insurers find fault with Solvency II
For the European insurance industry, Solvency II establishes a revised set of EU-wide capital requirements and risk management standards aiming to reduce or eliminate consumer loss or market disruption in insurance.
Be the first to comment | January 2012
Martin Luther King meets the markets

It is safe to say it won’t be as fondly remembered as that famous speech Martin Luther King delivered on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, but Alessio Rastani’s ‘I have a dream speech’ this week has certainly caused a stir.

Be the first to comment | September 2011
K.I.S.S. me quick – full disclosure

Without a disclosure statement, a company report is not worth the paper it is written on. While large companies that register with bodies such as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or are bound by International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) have generally improved their risk disclosures in recent years, the quality of reporting varies considerably across the financial spectrum, and a greater move towards transparency needs to be achieved.

Be the first to comment | September 2011
My brother’s a copper

In answer to those cynics who say the authorities are wont to turn a blind eye to white collar crime, especially among those Olympian gods of Wall Street, the SEC has issued a timely riposte - the so-called Whistleblower Program.

Be the first to comment | September 2011
Conflict of interest destroys ratings’ value

“The management and board of Moody’s are squarely responsible for the poor quality of previous Moody’s opinions that ushered in the financial crisis” – so says a former senior analyst at the agency, William J. Harrington…

1 Comment | August 2011
Capital requirements go up, lending to corporates goes down – CRD IV

Bad news for corporates – CRD IV, the directive implementing the Basel III reforms in Europe, was published yesterday, detailing core tier 1 capital ratios for banks. And rising capital requirements can only mean less is available for corporates to borrow…

Be the first to comment | July 2011
Tax doesn't have to be taxing

In the UK, the subject of overseas profits is back on the agenda. The Treasury has issued a consultation document containing proposals that will simplify the way overseas financial centres are taxed...

Be the first to comment | July 2011
Testing times for stressed out banks

The results of the European bank stress tests are due to be released today. After last year’s whitewash, expectations - and tensions - are running high. But what impact...

1 Comment | July 2011
Pro Bono - but not in the public interest

Tax-campaigning rock band U2 faced a protest of their own at the Glastonbury music festival at the end of June – with activists claiming the Irish stars do not…

Be the first to comment | July 2011
Unintended consequences of Basel III could hit corporates hard

A lack of coherent implementation internationally and the over-enthusiasm of zealous regulators could mean the Basel III rules do more harm than good – driving up corporate costs and removing…

Be the first to comment | June 2011

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