Banking and finance
Say goodbye to the pin: voice recognition takes over at Barclays Wealth
Barclays Wealth customers will no longer need to answer security questions and remember pin codes to use telephone banking.
Categories: Banking and finance
US housing recovery lifts Freddie Mac
Through Fannie and Freddie, which have taken $187bn in bailout funds, the US government owns or guarantees about nine out of 10 new mortgages
Categories: Banking and finance
Brussels wants to alter bank account rules
EU banks will have to allow European citizens to open accounts even if they are non-residents, under proposals drawn up by the Commission
Categories: Banking and finance
Top economists attack George Osborne's Help-to-Buy scheme as a 'short-term political fix'
George Osborne's flagship Budget scheme to help the housing market has been dismissed as a "short term political fix" by a former deputy governor of the Bank of England as senior economists rounded on the controversial plan.
Categories: Banking and finance
Top economists attack Osborne's help-to-buy
George Osborne's flagship Budget plan to help the housing market has been dismissed as a "short term political fix" by a former deputy governor of the Bank of England as senior economists rounded on the controversial plan.
Categories: Banking and finance
Japan’s trading houses pledge diversity
Groups vow to accelerate investments in areas such as food, retail and healthcare, as earnings from energy and minerals businesses suffer
Categories: Banking and finance
NZ intervenes to limit rise of currency
Central bank sells local currency and announce capital rules for major banks as it faces increased risks to financial stability
Categories: Banking and finance
NZ intervenes to limit rise of currency
Central bank sells local currency and announce capital rules for major banks as it faces increased risks to financial stability
Categories: Banking and finance
Temasek fails to back Standard Chartered executive directors
Standard Chartered's largest shareholder has failed to back four of the emerging market lender's directors in a dispute over the boardroom structure of the bank.
Categories: Banking and finance
Standard Chartered revenues 'strong' in first quarter
Standard Chartered said it had enjoyed a "very strong start" to 2013 and that its revenues for the first three months of the year were ahead of those it made in the last period in 2012.
Categories: Banking and finance
Commodities hedge funds suffer weak quarter
Investors head for the exit, with the average fund losing 0.8% in the first quarter, although a handful of managers are offering positive returns
Categories: Banking and finance
China brokers ramp up prop trading
Profits are rising despite the practice being frowned upon in the west and it is set to become more important after regulators relaxed restrictions
Categories: Banking and finance
Money MoT: Nationwide cuts loan rates to 5pc
Derbyshire Building Society, owned by Nationwide, is offering some of the cheapest personal loan deals on the high street. But will all customers qualify for the new deal?
Categories: Banking and finance
Prince prepared to defend his Kingdom
Billionaire Saudi Arabian investor is ready to offer more shares in his investment group to help expand his sprawling banking-to-hotels empire
Categories: Banking and finance
JLT director quits after LatAm switch
Vyvienne Wade has abruptly left the FTSE 250 group after a breakdown in her relations with the insurance broker where she worked for more than 26 years
Categories: Banking and finance
Pru profits hit by variable annuities
Performance in the US, where Prudential operates under the Jackson brand, limited the total rise in new business profits to 5%
Categories: Banking and finance
Proxy firm calls on Dimon to split roles
Executives and investors are scheduled for calls in the run-up to a crucial meeting when shareholders decide on whether to create independent chairman
Categories: Banking and finance
Proxy firm calls on Dimon to split roles
Executives and investors are scheduled for calls in the run-up to a crucial meeting when shareholders decide on whether to create independent chairman
Categories: Banking and finance
US investors increase reliance on ETFs
US investors are increasing their use of ETFs within their investment portfolios, finds Greenwich Associates
Categories: Banking and finance
Austria moves closer to tax evasion reforms
Legal changes that could lead to data-sharing between member states and third parties are up for discussion at top-level meetings this month
Categories: Banking and finance
The Bottom Line:If Mr Cable has his way...
"If Mr Cable had his way, all the big banks would be broken up and bonuses would be virtually eliminated - a sure-fire way in my view of guaranteeing an end to the UK’s ability to compete as an international financial centre. Let’s not forget that this is a man who is on record as saying that everyone who works in a bank has an ‘aristocratic lifestyle’ clearly demonstrating his lack of understanding of the sector." A tough line on bankers’ bonuses could make a brain drain of financial talent a distinct possibility, warns Paul Marsden. Read more