Austrian banks were early movers into central, eastern and south-eastern Europe. But the traditional Austrian-based parent companies with regional subsidiaries have transformed into modern, integrated entities that bring together staff and technology from across the region, to the benefit of all, says Österreichische Nationalbank governor Ewald Nowotny.
Following the financial crisis, major central banks had a remarkable convergence of approach and acted to avoid a meltdown. But global leveraging has not slowed and there is a risk of complacency in some quarters, warns the former ECB president.
With both the second Payment Services Directive and the UK Competition and Markets Authority plans for open banking coming into effect in January 2018, firms are under pressure to balance customer convenience and customer protection to maintain their place in the market, writes Jonathan Hoey, partner at UK law firm TLT.
France embraced change at its recent presidential election, writes its minister for the economy and finance. Now Emmanuel Macron’s new government aims to transform the economy by reforming labour laws, cutting business taxes, boosting training and overhauling the pension system. It also has its eye on shaking up the EU.
After 2016’s coup attempt in Turkey, president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has tightened his grip on power. While some banks say his economic stimulus programme has benefited them, others believe his interventions, such as calls for rate cuts, represent a political risk. Tom Stevenson reports.
Brexit is going to be at least as complex as accession to the EU was 40 odd years ago, yet the UK has not even decided what kind of Brexit it wants, says the founding partner of investment management firm SCM Direct, who is urging the government to request an immediate extension to the two-year framework.