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Finance 2.0

A community for discussing the application of Web 2.0 technologies to financial services.

Retired Member

Retired Member 

No Exit

One of the more salient features of the current financial environment is illiquidity, a feature which has largely been associated with the credit markets. However the liquidity problem has infiltrated the private equity marketplace as well. Though still well capitalized and continuing to invest, on the horizon looms the question for the VC/PE co...

Paul Penrose

Paul Penrose Head of Research at Finextra

What's your Twitter password?

Quality PR from Sophos. I couldn't put it better myself: IT security and control firm Sophos is calling on Twitter to enforce the use of strong passwords by its members following the recent publication of details on how a hacker managed to gain access to Twitter's internal systems earlier this week. According to reports, the teenage hacker, who u...

/security /retail

Paul Penrose

Paul Penrose Head of Research at Finextra

The Wells Fargo - Wachovia merger blog

US bank Wells Fargo is taking its experience with social media into unchartered territory (for the banking industry) with the launch of a new blog designed to keep customers up-to-speed with progress on its merger with Wachovia. The Wells Fargo - Wachovia blog will feature regular contributions from five team members - including CEO John Stumpf - ...

/retail

Retired Member

Retired Member 

Getting Ready For Deflation

My private banker's report came in today, his bank's view is very bearish. Finally coming into line with my feeling for nearly 12 months. Probably the most surprising though is the talk of deflation being a real risk, particularly in the UK. I have suspected this but not so soon. Is it getting worse faster than even the bears expected? I think so. ...

Steve Ellis

Steve Ellis Founder at Finextra Research

Dick Hardt: Mr Identity 2.0 joins Microsoft

Given the subject of identity comes up fairly frequently within the Finx blogs, especially in relation to security, it may be of interest to know that Microsoft has hired Dick Hardt to support its efforts to solve identity management problems. Dick explains his move here. Dick Hardt sprang to wider fame when he delivered the infamous (as in infam...

/security

Retired Member

Retired Member 

Online financial sites are popular. Do they threaten banks?

It depends on the goal of the site. Financial product comparison services like moneyaisle.com or filife.com are more an opportunity than a threat to the banks. If a bank has good products or conditions, the customers will choose it by browsing on an independent site. This means a minimal investment of listing from the bank and, of course, the pre...

Peter Kinahan

Peter Kinahan Senior Consultant at Intuition

Banks failing in personal finance online proposition

Although Quicken has been around for decades, it's new tool is just another example of how innovation in the online personal financial services sphere is being driven, not by banks, but by more imaginative outfits (often newcomers such as Mint and where Wesabe). The result: banks are steadily surrendering their franchise in personal finance as th

/retail

Steve Ellis

Steve Ellis Founder at Finextra Research

Google Maps embedded inside La Caixa ATMs

Came across this post (via prolific tweeter James Governor) describing Spain's La Caixa ATMs having Google Maps embedded. Not sure if this is news to you, but it was to me. Any other Web 2.0 / Mashups made it inside ATMs?

/retail

Paul Penrose

Paul Penrose Head of Research at Finextra

Mumbai: Indian government gets jitters about Twitter

The Indian government has asked for live Twitter updates from Mumbai to cease immediately. "ALL LIVE UPDATES - PLEASE STOP TWEETING about #Mumbai police and military operations," a tweet says. At least, that's what the BBC's Mumbai Live Events page is reporting. The potential use of Twitter and other communications technologies by terror...

Steve Ellis

Steve Ellis Founder at Finextra Research

Reuters embed evacuated from Second Life outpost

Last week I listened to a Woman's Hour* feature about Second Life (OK, I spend too much time commuting). At the time, I couldn't decide whether the arrival of Second Life on Woman's Hour signified it had gone mainstream, or that it was all over for the virtual world. For some reason Second Life on Woman's Hour is a bit like your Granny getting an ...

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