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Four C words and the Swiss. And there’s no chocolate.

Fear not, this is not a recap of the recent John Terry case. This is about competing in the global economy. It is about our local economy in Switzerland and specifically how we compete. Although the story takes place in the financial markets, the issue here is a national one and not specific to the […]

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Trade Date & Settlement Date; Two sides of the same reconciliation coin

The UBS rogue trader case, featuring its alleged perpetrator, Kweku Adoboli, was in court this last week. Reading some of the many reports highlighted to me the importance of some of the controls we have in banks and the need to fully understand them. A date can make all the difference; timing, as the expression […]

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Paying for Stuff That You Don’t Use Properly.

Last week, we took a look at stuff you pay for and your clients don’t use. This week, a subtle variation. Paying for stuff that you don’t use properly. When you negotiate to buy something, you will be starting from the notion that you need whatever good or service you are looking at. There is […]

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Cut costs now. Paying for Stuff Nobody Uses.

Banks need to cut their costs. This is actually always true, however in late Summer 2012 the need is acute as bankers fight with low interest rates, low volumes and low revenues. Banks are though not really efficient at the best of times and in the worst of times, that really hurts. Banks send their […]

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