Though there is some dispute among economists whether China has now surpassed Japan as the world’s second biggest economy, by whatever criterion Japan remains one of the leading global economic heavyweights. Its trajectory is remarkable. In the mid-19th century, as the West achieved global ascendancy and domination, the only country outside the West to have met the Western challenge and succeeded in becoming within a few short decades a formidable industrial and imperial power, was Japan. The nation played and won the Western game.

By Niall Ferguson

On Wednesday last week, yields on 10-year US Treasuries -- generally seen as the benchmark for long-term interest rates -- rose above 3.73 per cent. Once upon a time that would have been considered rather low. But the financial crisis has changed all that: at the end of last year, the yield on the 10-year fell to 2.06 per cent. In other words, long-term rates have risen by 167 basis points in the space of five months. In relative terms, that represents an 81 per cent jump.

By Terry Miller, WallStreet Journal

As former Texas Longhorn coach Darrell Royal liked to say, when faced with a challenging bowl game, you need to "dance with the one who brung you" to the party. Mr. Royal meant that even when faced with daunting new challenges, one would be well advised not to abandon a winning formula that had already brought success. That is good advice as the United States and other economies face the daunting task of restoring economic growth.

La première étape du chantier a été fixée à janvier 2008 avec l'instauration d'un mécanisme de prélèvement unique. Les banques devront notamment refondre leurs flux clients et leurs processus traitement.

En charge des transferts interbancaires internationaux, Swift transmet régulièrement des données personnelles d'entreprises françaises aux autorités américaines. Une décision prise sans aucune consultation.  (14/06/2007)

La Caisse d'Epargne innove et lance Movo, un service de paiement par mobile. Objectif : s'imposer sur le terrain des transactions en CtoC via le mobile et séduire 400.000 utilisateurs d'ici fin 2007.(13/10/2006)

Face à la difficulté de recruter de nouveaux clients, la banque se repositionne en se rebaptisant et en lançant de nouveaux services dédiés aux internautes réguliers. Elle compte pour l'instant 200.000 clients actifs.03/10/2006)