From: FT.com on Thu, May 26 2011 8:32 AM

The former Union Bank of Switzerland is reportedly considering finding a new national home for its investment bank. Lex’s Edward Hadas and Richard Stovin-Bradford discuss why the idea is appealing – and probably impractical.

From: FT.com on Wed, May 25 2011 2:54 PM

The markets have reacted to political brinkmanship by ranking the US as more likely to default on its debts than Colombia or Panama. Some investors and politicians argue a temporary default would be beneficial. James Mackintosh, investment editor, says playing politics with something so fundamen...

From: FT.com on Wed, May 25 2011 2:54 PM

Andy Kyte of Gartner talks to Tom Griggs about the problems business face when updating their systems to the latest technology

From: FT.com on Wed, May 25 2011 12:54 PM

The BRICS - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa - have issued a common statement: they do not want another European at the top of the International Monetary Fund. Lex’s John Authers and Edward Hadas discuss whether they are likely to get their way and whether the leader's national...

From: FT.com on Wed, May 25 2011 12:54 PM

Chancellor Angela Merkel has performed a U-turn by ending Germany’s pro-nuclear policy in the wake of the Fukushima disaster in Japan. Gerrit Weissman, Berlin correspondent, reports from the country's oldest operational nuclear reactor, and looks at how the government hopes to plug the new ...

From: FT.com on Tue, May 24 2011 8:36 AM

Rating agency Moody’s has placed on review for possible downgrade fourteen out of the UK's 18 banks and building societies. Lex's John Authers and Richard Stovin-Bradford look at the likely next chapter in UK banking once government support is withdrawn - of more expensive banking for c...

From: FT.com on Mon, May 23 2011 3:06 PM

Victor Mallet, Madrid bureau chief, reports on the victory of the spain’s Populist party which has taken control of towns run by the Socialists since the 1970s. He explains also why recent protests by Spanish youths are likley to fizzle out.

From: FT.com on Mon, May 23 2011 12:54 PM

Spain is the eurozone’s primary defence from crisis contagion, and market response to the country's dramatic local elections show just how nervous investors are. But, says James Mackintosh, there are other factors to blame for the turbulence.

From: FT.com on Mon, May 23 2011 6:33 AM

Protest in Spain over high youth unemployment and a downgrade warning on Italy’s debt highlight political problems in the eurozone. Lex's Edward Hadas and Vincent Boland discuss whether the lack of strong leaders (in Germany and Spain now, and soon in Italy) is pushing the sovereign debt c...

From: FT.com on Fri, May 20 2011 3:04 PM

From Russia to Korea, the gardens of England are in high demand. Buyers can expect to pay a minimum of £1m for a design by a leading British gardener, with some fetching five times that figure. As London’s Chelsea Flower show prepares to open its doors to the world, Jane Owen, House and Home edi...

From: FT.com on Fri, May 20 2011 1:02 PM

Stephen Jennings, chief executive of Renaissance Capital, explains to Megan Murphy, investment banking correspondent, why Africa will soon be the world’s fastest growing region, how Russia remains key to the investment bank, and what London and the west needs to do to compete with emerging compe...

From: FT.com on Fri, May 20 2011 10:57 AM

There’s much debate over the size of the European over the counter (OTC) cash equities market. Christian Krohn, a managing director at the Association for Financial Markets in Europe, which represents banks and brokers, explains why the market's share is 16 per cent rather than the figure o...

From: FT.com on Fri, May 20 2011 6:47 AM

Carlos Slim’s América Móvil has slipped nearly 20 per cent in recent months on concerns over tightening regulation in his home base of Mexico. Lex's Edward Hadas and John Authers look at whether this could endanger his title as the world's richest man.

From: FT.com on Thu, May 19 2011 2:17 PM

When people are willing to lend to the US government at a loss, as some have been over the past few weeks, it doesn’t reflect well on their view of other investment opportunities. James Mackintosh, investment editor, analyses the raft of data which suggest it's time to batten down the hatches.

From: FT.com on Thu, May 19 2011 2:17 PM

Felix Zulauf, former head of asset management at UBS, warns that storm clouds are gathering over the markets. He discusses with John Authers, head of Lex, his grim outlook: that Europe faces a double dip, China is slowing, bonds look awful and an overheating commodities sector will be hurt badly...

From: FT.com on Thu, May 19 2011 2:17 PM

Deadly protests at Israel border prove the Palestine issue is moving up the agenda across the Arab world. FT’s Jerusalem bureau chief Tobias Buck analyses how this has been driven by governments and popular sentiment.

From: FT.com on Thu, May 19 2011 7:52 AM

Dominique Strauss-Kahn has resigned as managing director of the International Monetary Fund. Everyone agrees that sooner or later a non-European should run the IMF. But some say the the eurozone crisis means the 11th head, like the previous ten, should be European. Lex’s Sarah O'Connor and...

From: FT.com on Wed, May 18 2011 12:28 PM

Since the turn of the year there has been a switch away from riskier smaller companies and a focus on yield rather than capital growth. James Mackintosh, investment editor, analyses investors' more defensive sentiment and the reasons behind it.

From: FT.com on Tue, May 17 2011 4:02 PM

The Bank of England has missed its inflation target 16 times in a row. It has plenty of excuses, but as James Mackintosh, investment editor, explains, while higher inflation may help the economy escape its debts, bond investors should be less sanguine.

From: FT.com on Tue, May 17 2011 4:02 PM

Even the Conservative-led education authority of Birmingham, the largest in England, has criticised the Lib-Con coalition’s cuts to capital budgets for school buildings and equipment. Chris Cook, education correspondent, reports on the problems the authority faces to deliver better education wh...