I discovered a fascinating report from Mobey Forum this morning. It was released this week, and says that “providing consumers with the convenience and functionality of mobile wallet technology will not be sufficient to drive mass-market adoption”. Mobey Forum – which describes itself as “the global bank-led industry association defining a prosperous mobile financial services ecosystem” (try saying that one at a drinks party and enjoy drinking on your own) – make it clear that simply taking a...

Things worth reading include ...   Insider dealing trial told of AKO trader's tipsFinancial Times US judge throws out Citigroup's $285m settlement with the SECThe Telegraph Autumn Statement 2011: HSBC and Standard Chartered hit hardest by bank levy increaseThe Telegraph Fannie and Freddie watchdog under fireFinancial Times RBS closes Bristol site with loss of 440 jobsThe Telegraph From bean counter to money magicianBBC Swiss banks face UK exodusThe Telegraph Michel Barnier moves...

There are evangelists and dogmatics across the banking spectrum.   On the one hand, I have regular debates with mobile extremists who believe cash is dead; on the other, there are those who are still fighting to keep the cheque in existence, and even lobbying to bring back cheque guarantee cards (they were phased out in June). Somewhere in between is reality. The reality for most people is that they want a branch, in order to be able to see someone if they have an issue. They want...

Things we're reading today include ... OECD Cuts Growth Forecasts, Blames Euro DoubtBusiness Week Markets rally on eurozone hopesBBC OECD warns of European recessionBBC EU-wide guarantee scheme for banks urged Financial Times   Nomura's global goal faces steep challengeFinancial Times Quinn ordered to repay €1.7bn to Anglo Irish BankFinancial Times Citigroup faces toxic asset trialBBC UK watchdog suggests PwC fine of up to £34mFinancial Times RBS pays $52m in...

Just had an interesting chat with a couple of guys who provide sales development and account planning services to IT firms. The gist of their business is turning product sellers into solution sellers, a core stomping ground of mine and one which intrigues me as it's more relevant now than ever. I guess it’s like the old nuggets of banks without branches, a cashless society and the fact that IT and business don’t talk the same language; product versus solutions always comes up, time after...

Things we're reading today include ... Europe unravels Bond market hammers Italy, Spain ponders outside helpReuters Portugal’s Credit Rating Is Cut to JunkBusiness Week Belgium's credit rating cut as Italian bond rates soarThe Independent Hungary Default Risk Jumps to Record as Forint Sinks on Junk CutBusiness Week Any euro exit must be made in total secrecyThe Independent Europe’s Single Currency May Unravel Before Action, UBS SaysBusiness Week Can Britain cope if the eurozone...

Our biggest stories of the week are ... Should a bank be called a bank After Richard Branson's Virgin Money successfully acquired Northern Rock, loads has been written about the takeover. Much has been negative, saying that the Chancellor did a bad deal and ‘gifting’ the bank to Virgin, losing £400 million in the process.... Risk is not a discipline, it's an attitude One of the panels at the trading technologies show that I chaired was all about pre- and post- trade risk, and the impact...

After Richard Branson's Virgin Money successfully acquired Northern Rock, loads has been written about the takeover. Much has been negative, saying that the Chancellor did a bad deal and ‘gifting’ the bank to Virgin, losing £400 million in the process. A lot of other dialogue has been positive, saying that the Chancellor got fair value by selling for £1 billion which is the book value of the bank. You can read all you want, there’s copious amounts, but what many failed to notice is that the...

Things we're reading today include ... Don't mention the R wordBBC Leaders' united front fails to hide key splits on the euro debt crisisThe Independent Italians Obsessed by ‘Lo Spread’ as Yield Makes HeadlinesBusiness Week Berlusconi Bravado Proved No Match for Euro-Region Debt CrisisBusiness Week Economy stalls as crisis in the eurozone hits industryThe Independent Sarkozy, Merkel agree to stop sniping on ECB crisisReuters Reform proposed for EU treatiesBBC Andrew Bailey:...

One of the panels at the trading technologies show that I chaired was all about pre- and post- trade risk, and the impact of real-time risk management. We were meant to talk about real-time risk, what it would mean, the ability to be able to see credit, market and liquidity risk across counterparties, asset classes and instruments throughout the day as it happened, rather than intraday or, worse, yesterday. Yea. Hmmm. As the panel progressed, I realised something was wrong. I realised that...