Helen Avery

Recent stories by Helen Avery

• US Banking: Private equity smells too strong for FDIC

  Twenty US banks have failed this year and 720 more are on the troubled bank list. Private equity buyers have been snubbed but there not enough strategic buyers for the FDIC to be so fussy. Helen Avery reports.

  Euromoney March 2010

• Proprietary trading: Safer figures against prop trading

  Prop trading large part of revenues; Volcker Rule needs to go further

  Euromoney March 2010

• Equity capital markets: Price not right as IPOs are sidelined

  Underwriters “too aggressive” in their pricing; Investors wary of debt-laden companies

  Euromoney March 2010

• Credit Suisse reaches the summit of private banking

  The recent announcement of net new inflows of Sfr44.2 billion, on top of group net income of Sfr6.7 billion for 2009, shows that a strategy of integration is paying rich dividends for Credit Suisse, sending wealth management business storming past arch rivals UBS to take the top spot in Euromoney's private banking rankings. Can the bank retain its momentum?

  Euromoney February 2010

• Private Banking and Wealth Management Survey 2010: The old order changes

  The financial crisis and its reverberations have been felt dramatically across the private banking industry. The status quo has been altered and new leaders have emerged, as the Euromoney 2010 private banking poll reveals. Helen Avery reports.

  Euromoney February 2010

• Private banking: Switzerland fights back in tax war

  Offshore banking centres and the code of secrecy are under attack by governments hungry for tax revenues. But Switzerland’s private banks are adapting fast, and finding strength in openness and innovation. Helen Avery reports.

  Euromoney February 2010

• Wealth management: The richest go for JPMorgan

  With a long-standing reputation for stability and sound advice, JPMorgan was ideally placed to profit from wealthy investors’ mistrust of other managers during last year’s market mayhem. Doug Wurth, head of its international private bank, tells Helen Avery how his division kept its cool and its clients during the crisis.

  Euromoney February 2010

• Goldman Sachs gets serious in Brazil

  Euromoney February 2010

• France’s private banks widen their nets

  Private banks draw on their groups’ retail base, while there has been a revival in appetite for structured products. Helen Avery reports.

  Euromoney February 2010

• Bank results: FICC trading revenues to fall 15% to 20% in 2010

  UBS and Morgan Stanley beef up to regain market share; Broader competition from the French banks

  Euromoney February 2010

• Sun sets on Talf programme

  Funds want more issuance, please; Non-prime ABS will face period of higher financing costs

  Euromoney February 2010

• Regulation: Banks have improved risk management, says IIF

  IIF survey shows progress on risk governance, but compensation still a problem; Technology and data systems need overhauling

  Euromoney January 2010

• Gold’s bubble won’t burst soon

  Fears surrounding US will bolster demand; Gold ETFs boom, hedge funds also jump in

  Euromoney January 2010

• Custodians fight to stay the distance

  When Lehman Brothers went bankrupt, hedge funds rushed to transfer assets from stricken prime brokers to the safety of custodians. It seemed a new competitor had emerged, but as normality returns can custodians convince hedge funds that they have what it takes? Helen Avery reports.

  Euromoney December 2009

• Private banking: McCann lays out his plans for UBS in America

  Business could win from others’ vulnerability; Reputational damage will be tough to repair

  Euromoney December 2009

• Rating agencies: Incumbents S&P, Moody's face stiffer competition

  DBRS increases market share, expands in Europe; Fitch gains investor approval from re-remics decision

  Euromoney December 2009

• After the crunch, THE BIG APPLE BITES BACK

  Capital markets are booming once again and competition is heating up among the investment banks. Is the upturn too good to be true? And how will the competitors fare in the new order? Helen Avery reports.

  Euromoney November 2009

• Real Estate: Goodbye Spacs, hello Spreits

  Spacs convert to special-purpose Reits as time runs out to invest; Hedge funds profit from their demise

  Euromoney November 2009

• Mergers & Acquisitions: When will the market get better?

  M&A worse than volumes reveal, fees down; 2010 seen to be better if equity markets stay up

  Euromoney November 2009

• Fixed income: Trading boosts bank revenues

  Trading is bringing in the money for Wall Street, but is it artificial?; Fed might not unwind programmes next year

  Euromoney November 2009