The Dizzying Rise of Charismatic Credit Suisse Boss Tidjane Thiam
Is there any other figure from the iffy (PR-wise) world of banking this peculiar power couple would not have minded being seen with? Unlikely. – April 29 / Daily Mail
12 Forces That Will Radically Change How Organizations Work
A tidal wave of change is coming that will soon make the way we work almost unrecognizable to today’s business leaders. – April 28 / BCG.com
Apple Rumoured to Start a P2P Money Transferring Network
Apple is said to be looking to build a digital wallet that would allow iPhone owners to transfer funds to and from others' iPhone handsets. Should banks be nervous. – April 28 / Phonearena.com
China’s Airbnb «Xiaozhu» Targets Business Travellers
Home-sharing start-up Xiaozhu, often dubbed «China’s Airbnb» due to its similar business model, is looking at business travellers to boost the company’s growth in China’s short-term home-rental market. – April 27 / South China Morning Post
Cash-Loving Switzerland Wins Banknote of the Year for 50-Franc Bill
The Swiss National Bank’s 50-franc bill was named banknote of the year by a group of international connoisseurs, beating out 18 competitors including the Bank of England’s controversial polymer note. – April 26 / Bloomberg
Why Elon Musk’s New Relationship is Good for Tesla
Elon Musk confirmed Silicon Valley’s worst kept secret over the weekend by posting an image – lipstick mark on cheek included– on Instagram of himself with actress Amber Heard. – April 25 / New York Post
China Markets Reel as $1.7 Trillion in Shadow Funds Unwinds
A $1.7 trillion source of inflows into Chinese markets has suddenly switched into reverse. The turbulence has centered on so-called entrusted investments - funds that Chinese banks farm out to external asset managers. – April 25 / Bloomberg
Morgan Stanley Casting Net Farther
Ronald Ong, Morgan Stanley chairman and chief executive for South-east Asia, says: «To be a successful private wealth banker, I truly believe you need to be a trusted adviser, more than just a salesman.» – April 24 / The Straits Times
Is the Passive Indexing Craze the New Tulip Bulb Mania?
The rise of passive indexing plus the Fed's monetary policies show all the signs of a bubble. – April 22 / wealthmanagement.com
Flying Car Costing More Than $1 Million Goes On Show in Monaco
A Slovakia-based company has unveiled the commercial design for a flying car priced at more than $1 million, saying it was ready for pre-orders with first deliveries expected by 2020. – April 21 / Reuters
Forget The Bottle, Invest in Whisky by The Barrel
Nigel Isherwood was so concerned about the fate of the global financial system last year that he turned to booze buying $51,300 of unbottled whisky still maturing inside 200-liter oak casks. Price gains for Scotch more than double gold, silver since ‘09. – April 20 / Bloomberg
Ferrari Roars Back in China as Rich Snub Xi's Austerity Push
Four years after China’s President Xi Jinping started cracking down on corruption and conspicuous consumption, the most extravagant fast cars are making a comeback. – April 20 / Bloomberg
Bringing Light to China’s Shadow Banking Sector
With the country facing slowing economic growth but increasing risk in financial markets, the banking sector is rife with challenges. – April 19 / Asia Times
Common Mistakes Executives Make When Getting Divorced
Divorce is a financial shock for most couples; for executives and other high-net-worth individuals, the stakes are higher. – April 18 / Crain's Custom Media
Billionaire Taizo Son Ditches Japan to Start Afresh in Singapore
Frustrated by regulation in Japan as well as the country’s education system, Taizo Son, younger brother of SoftBank Group Corp.’s founder has relocated to the city-state from Tokyo. He plans to invest $100 million in Southeast Asia within five years. – April 18 / Bloomberg
MUFG to Launch AI-Based Business Consulting Service
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group will develop a business consulting service that mines data from its bank accounts and social networking sites to uncover trending consumer services and products for its clients. – April 17 / Nikkei
Tax Havens Can Be Surprisingly Close to Home
Shutting down tax havens is a futile endeavor because new ones will just spring up. – April 16 / Bloomberg
Singapore’s Property Prices to Double by 2030: Morgan Stanley
Property market bears expect slower population growth, an ageing population, and a structural growth slowdown to weigh on the long-term property market outlook. Morgan Stanley disagrees and believes home prices in Singapore will double by 2030. – April 14 / CNBC
Capitalizing on the New Golden Age in Private Equity
Never have there been so many Private Equity firms and so many new players. The amount of uninvested capital, or dry powder, is at an all-time high, and funds continue to outperform most other asset classes—keeping investors happy. – April 13 / BCG.perspectives
Fired Banker Sues Credit Suisse After Rogue-Trader Case Collapse
A Credit Suisse Group trader who was fired after being accused of hiding about $18 million in losses has sued the bank for unfair dismissal after the subsequent criminal case was dropped last year. – April 13 / Bloomberg Markets
Chinese Backers Planning Singapore's Third Derivatives Exchange
Singapore may be set to get a third derivatives exchange, this time backed by China. If the new bourse, which would be called Apex, goes ahead, it would be operated by Asia Investment Pte which is majority-owned by former China Financial Futures Exchange chief. – April 13 / Bloomberg
Singapore and London Are the World's Top Fintech Hubs
Fintech has become a truly global phenomenon, with hubs popping up in cities around the world, although established players such as London and Singapore continue to be the top centres, according to a report by Deloitte. – April 12 / finextra.com
Malaysian Minister Urges Probe of Fund Transfers to North Korea
Malaysia should investigate the possible transfer of funds to North Korea's leadership, the deputy home minister said on Tuesday, after reports that the head of a Malaysian conglomerate had for years funneled cash to Pyongyang. – April 11 / Reuters
Bank CEO Prefers Saving Trees to Running His Empire
These days, the head of Thailand’s Kasikornbank spends much of his time saving trees in the remote province of Nan and promoting his romantic novel, rather than running the country’s second-largest lender in Bangkok. – April 10 / Bloomberg
Hong Kong Jeweller Pays Record For «Pink Star» Diamond
Hong Kong jewellery company Chow Tai Fook has paid $71.2 million including fees, making it the most expensive precious stone sold at auction and relieving auction house Sotheby’s of unwanted inventory that it was forced to take on three years ago. – April 5 / South China Morning Post
Warren Buffett’s Face Will Adorn Cans of Cherry Coke in China
Warren Buffett’s face will appear on cans of Cherry Coke in China to capitalise on its biggest and most famous investor. Buffett, who has a net worth of about $75 billion, has come to the defence of Coke amid concerns about the effects of sugary drinks. – April 4 / Bloomberg
Donald Trump’s Ferrari Disappoints at Florida Auction
President Donald Trump’s 2007 Ferrari F430 F1 Coupe left the sale block before meeting reserve at auction on Saturday in Florida. Bidding on the car stopped at $240,000, $10,000 below the low estimate of $250,000 for the car. – April 3 / Bloomberg
Japanese Insurer Will Pay You For Walking
NTT Docomo is partnering with a Tokyo Marine Group unit to roll out a new type of medical insurance this summer. Policyholders will be paid refunds depending on the number of steps they take each day. – April 2 / Nikkei Asian Review
Warren Buffett Bets Big on Vanguard
«When I saw kind words about Jack (Bogle) from none other than Warren Buffett, I was reminded once again that Jack has proven all the naysayers wrong, persevering through everything from industry criticism to a heart transplant,» writes Bill McNabb, Chairman and CEO of Vanguard. – April 1 / Vanguard Blog
