Personal Finance

29 January 2020

Online reputation management is the way in which a brand builds and maintains its online reputation. In today’s digital world, a company’s online reputation is one of its most valuable assets. Word of mouth still plays a major part in advertising, so what others are saying about your brand...

Featured Articles

25 July 2016

Don’t Stress Your Stress Test

The results of the latest stress tests on European banks are expected to be released at 10:00 am CET (5:00 am ET).  The tests cover a little more than 50 of Europe's largest banks, with around 80% domiciled in the...

20 July 2016

Digital Finance’s Rapid Growth Across Asia

Over 31 million consumers in Vietnam researched or purchased a product online in 2015. Just ten years ago, internet connectivity was only starting to become common. Digitization is changing how people trade. There are even more dramatic changes happening under...

12 July 2016

Less Stress Doesn’t Mean No Bank Failures

Last month, the Federal Reserve announced that 31 out of 33 U.S. banks had passed its latest “stress test,” designed to ensure that the largest financial institutions have enough capital to withstand a severe economic shock. Last month, the Federal Reserve announced that 31 out of...

11 July 2016

In a Bank Bail-In/Bail-Out, Who Loses First?

After the 2007-2008 bank recapitalization by governments, which means taxpayers' money, Europe changed the rules.  The new rules require that private investors be "bailed in" before the bank is "bailed out."  Europe's fastidious with rules allows for exceptions and flexibility. ...

29 June 2016

Dealing with Italian Banks’ ‘Pre-existing Conditions’

How exceptional are market developments?  Much rests on the answer.  If these are extraordinary circumstances, then Japanese intervention becomes more likely.  Of course, Japanese policymakers have been inclined to intervene before the UK referendum but were seemingly rebuffed by its...

16 June 2016

Should Student Loan Debt Forgiveness Go Beyond the Defrauded?

  Outstanding student loan debt in the United States reached a record US$1.35 trillion in March, up six percent from a year earlier.  About 10 million people who borrowed from the government’s main student loan program – 43 percent – are currently behind...

10 June 2016

The Soda War, Your Wallet and Waistline

Soda drinks are under attack in the US and the UK, but the weapons employed on the two fronts are different. Soda drinks are under attack in the US and the UK, but the weapons employed on the two fronts...

10 June 2016

Are Fewer Indian Public Sector Banks Better?

In India’s most recent budget, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley formally announced that it would slash the number of Indian public sector banks from the current 27 to just 10. Consolidating India’s public sector banks will result in improved efficiency, greater...

9 June 2016

Corporate Venture Capital Programs are on the Rise

Large established firms increasingly rely on external sources for innovation. One way these firms are seeking to foster innovative activity is via corporate venture capital programs. According to the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA), established firms invested more than US$4...

9 June 2016

Australia’s Retail Banking may go the Way of the UK

  The idea of separating out the arms of the “Big Four” banks like insurance and superannuation from their core banking business is gaining traction in Australia. It featured in the Greens' banking and finance election policy. However, this is not a new idea;...

27 May 2016

Fintech has Lowered Asia’s Financially Excluded

Due to innovations in financial technology and changes in the enabling environment, the number of financially excluded adults across Asia and the Pacific has dropped to about 1 billion. Increased access to affordable financial services can be a lever for...

26 May 2016

Tax ‘Super Changes’ are Taxing

Any change in taxation invariably raises questions about distribution. Who loses, who wins – and who loses most – will always be an issue. However, such analysis should be applied with care, lest it miss the bigger picture. Any change...