| Regulatory burden likely to pressure insurance companies further |
Issue: 04 / 2005 |
| The raft of new regulations facing the insurance industry is placing an increasing strain on companies’ resources to fulfil their statutory obligations, writes Brian Clavin, who advises regulators to be aware of the cumulative effect of their changes. |
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| Regulatory overkill is main risk facing banks according to Banana Skins 2005 |
Issue: 04 / 2005 |
| The remorseless rise in regulation has become the greatest risk facing the banking sector according to the latest ‘Banana Skins’ survey conducted by the CSFI, the independent City of London think tank, and sponsored by PricewaterhouseCoopers. The report finds that regulatory overkill saps bank resources, reduces risk diversification and creates a false sense of security. Alan Merriman examines the findings of the report, in which credit risk is the second biggest risk. |
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| Salary levels are forecast to increase at a slower rate |
Issue: 04 / 2005 |
| Salary levels are expected to increase by an average of 3.6 per cent in 2005 compared with an average of 4.6 per cent in 2004, according to Mercer's annual International Financial Services Remuneration Guide. Pictured are Mary McDermott and Kevin McGowan. |
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| Taoiseach’s response to over-regulation welcomed |
Issue: 04 / 2005 |
| Both industry and professional services sources have offered a warm welcome to the Taoiseach’s plan to re-assess the controversial Section 45. This response reflects growing concerns about Ireland’s onerous regulatory regime amongst industry, in the face of increasing media criticism about a lack of regulation. |
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| Tax facts launched |
Issue: 04 / 2005 |
| The publication is a practical and easy-to-follow guide to the Irish tax system for Irish business. |
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| US PCAOB extends EU co-operation |
Issue: 04 / 2005 |
| The US Congress responded to the recent spate of corporate scandals with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and by setting up the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB), which operates as an independent, private-sector regulator. Its chairman, William J. McDonough, outlines its mission and the need for co-operation with E.U. initiatives. |
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| US private placement trend continues |
Issue: 04 / 2005 |
| Irish corporate Kingspan has just transacted a $200 mn deal. |
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| We must do better |
Issue: 04 / 2005 |
| The Irish tax code is designed to encourage economic development by creating an environment which is attractive for investment. Recent Finance Acts have highlighted flaws in our legislative system that could endanger domestic and inward investment. These flaws have been long present, often highlighted, but appear to attract no appetite for reform, writes Brian Daly. |
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| What is a credit default swap? - Part 1 |
Issue: 04 / 2005 |
| CreditTrade, the financial services information provider offers an introduction to credit default swaps (CDS) – contracts which provide users with a contractual mechanism for transferring the credit risk inherent in bonds, loans and other credit intensive instruments without disturbing the structure or legal ownership of the underlying asset. |
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| Who’s who in Finance: Martin Cole, Enterprise Partner, Mazars |
Issue: 04 / 2005 |
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| ‘Nobody went broke taking a profit’ |
Issue: 03 / 2005 |
| Paul Guest is head of the premier trading desk in Davy’s Private Client division. The desk provides an institutional style trading service which is tailored to meet the needs of high net worth clients who are interested in active trading rather than long-term investment portfolios. |
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| AIB opens Paris office |
Issue: 03 / 2005 |
| AIB Capital Markets has established a new European Real Estate Finance operation, headquartered in Paris, to build upon its lucrative corporate banking activities in a market that saw €10 billion worth of business last year and offers significant growth opportunities. |
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| Bank of Ireland involved in Qatar gas financing |
Issue: 03 / 2005 |
| Bank of Ireland has entered the international resource underwriting market as part of a 36-strong group facilitating the funding of a gas scheme in Qatar that has been hailed as the largest project financing scheme on record. |
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| Banking industry welcomes Cowen’s first Finance Bill |
Issue: 03 / 2005 |
| There may have been no radical measures in Finance Minister Brian Cowen’s first Finance Bill but the clarification of a number of technical concerns put forward by the banking industry has been welcomed by the Irish Bankers Federation, although Cathrine Burke writes that issues still remain to be addressed. |
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| Compensation is not guaranteed when dismissed unfairly |
Issue: 03 / 2005 |
| Any employee, regardless of the industry they work in, who feels they have been unfairly sacked has the right to bring a case for unfair dismissal before the Employment Appeals Tribunal, writes John Doyle, but large compensation awards are not guaranteed. |
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