Author Archives: Darren Marchal

Brunei Bank collects ‘firsts’

Baiduri means ‘emerald,’ the green precious stone that has been much admired and loved by many throughout history. Associated with grandeur, faithfulness and friendship, the stone has had a history as far back as 3000 BC, when they were the established gemstones in India, Egypt and Rome. It is no wonder, therefore, that the founders…

Poland’s bankers look to double-digit growth

When global crises bring financial strife to the doors of once-renowned institutions, investors look for a sure place to protect their assets. PKO Bank Polski – the leader of the Polish banking market and a rising star of European finance – can be considered a safe haven for such investors’ money. For more than 90…

The global economy: What next?

www.4xp.com 4XP foresees much on the financial front of 2011. The previous financial year really did witness a lot of ground-breaking events from the global economy. Oil prices rose from right under the eyes of traders, and currently threatens a global recession if they rise further past $100 a barrel. And what about the euro?…

Malta’s comms sector continues surge

As Malta’s leading provider of communications and entertainment services, GO offers fixed line telephony, mobile telephony, broadband internet services and digital television, in addition to business-related services like data networking solutions, business IP services, and managed and co-location facilities. Although the company’s major market is Malta – the smallest member state of the EU, with…

Online trading grows in MENA

In the past 10 years, conventional financial institutions in the MENA region have moved heavily to create an online presence for themselves. The online trading ‘tornado’ started to affect the MENA region early 2004. Since that time it has amazingly remodelled the financial industry. International and regional online brokerages, which first came into the scene,…

CG drives healthcare sector

The Diagnostic and Therapeutic Centre of Athens Hygeia S.A. was established in 1970 in Greece by physicians, most of whom were professors at the University of Athens. Since 1975 it has operated in the primary and secondary healthcare services. In January 2006, Marfin Investment Group (MIG) acquired the company, and it became MIG’s investment arm…

Leading the Polish recovery

With leading market positions and a strong operating performance, TVN Group has outperformed its peer group. The Polish advertising market is on track to return to its peak 2008 levels this year. As a result, TVN Group is well positioned to benefit from the further development and digitisation of the Polish media market. TVN Group…

UK inflation: Should the bank tighten?

The Bank of England has had a torrid time of late, with inflation persistently overshooting its forecasts and a series of letters to the Treasury to explain why this has been the case. Independent analysis shows that nominal spending in the UK is rising and inflation has hit four percent. Cries can be heard from…

Asian exchanges could miss M&A wave on regulation

Asia runs the risk of being left behind in the sudden wave of transatlantic stock exchange consolidation, given the tough regulatory regimes, cumbersome ownership structures and protectionist minded governments. The proposed tie-up between NYSE Euronext and Deutsche Boerse along with the London Stock Exchange’s move for Canada’s TMX Group has prompted talk the global exchange…