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Pat McConnell

Honorary Fellow, Macquarie University Applied Finance Centre, Macquarie University

After over 30 years working for, and consulting to, major banking and insurance companies in the US, Europe and Australia, Pat transferred to teaching courses in Risk Management at Masters level and to industry. His main areas of research are in Operational Risk (People, Systems, Process and Legal risks) and banking regulation and he has published widely on this topic, including a new book on People Risk Management http://www.koganpage.com/product/people-risk-management-9780749471354 .

Bank codes of conduct: add bars to the window dressing and make them legally binding

Oct 26, 2018 07:31 am UTC| Insights & Views Law

Banks dont need 10 commandments to do the right thing, but just six, says the head of the banking royal commission. The first of those commandments set out by Commissioner Kenneth Hayne is to obey the law. The other...

It's time for a royal commission into banking regulation

Nov 08, 2017 15:26 pm UTC| Insights & Views Law

The handling of recent financial scandals show that regulators are confused about what they do, or should do. And as a result the regulation of the financial system, which is vital to a strong functioning economy, is just...

Blockchain Revolution Series

Common Bank of Australia's test of government bond using the blockchain, is just that

Jan 30, 2017 09:40 am UTC| Fintech

Despite a media statement announcing that Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) and Queensland Treasury Corporation (QTC) have created the first government bond using the blockchain (dubbed the cryptobond), no QTC bond had...

Blockchain Revolution Series

Smart contracts – smart or dumb?

Jan 23, 2017 06:36 am UTC| Technology Fintech

Consider, for a moment, these two statements from the Ultimate Guide to Understanding Blockchain Smart Contracts on a well known Blockchain website: 1) Traditional Contracts Traditional physical contracts, such as...

Blockchain Revolution Series

What next for the ASX and Blockchain in 2017?

Jan 18, 2017 02:56 am UTC| Fintech Digital Currency

What a difference a year makes. In January 2016, ASX was bathing in the warm glow of having been acclaimed by Blythe Masters, an American super saleswoman and head of a Blockchain start-up called Digital Asset The...

ASIC gives the banks cause for Christmas celebration

Dec 22, 2016 03:50 am UTC| Law Economy

Christmas is a time to forgive and forget and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) sure knows how to distribute good cheer at Yuletide, especially to old friends such as the big four banks. On...

Blockchain Revolution Series

Blockchain – not fit for financial markets

Dec 21, 2016 10:26 am UTC| Fintech

For a discipline that is supposedly rational, finance has had its fair share of irrational crazes. For example, the dotcom bubble and the collateralized debt obligation craze that led to the global financial crisis. The...

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Economy

ECB Signals Possible Rate Hike as Middle East Tensions Push Euro Zone Inflation Higher

The European Central Bank (ECB) is increasingly likely to raise interest rates in June as escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East continue driving energy prices higher across the euro area. ECB policymaker and...

Asian Stocks Rally as Nvidia Earnings Boost Tech Shares, Samsung Jumps on Wage Deal

Asian stock markets surged on Thursday after strong earnings from Nvidia reignited investor confidence in artificial intelligence-related technology stocks. The positive momentum spread across regional markets, while...

Australia Regulator Flags Private Credit Risks Amid Global Market Uncertainty

Australias financial regulator has warned that the countrys growing private credit sector faces increasing risks tied to global market instability, geopolitical tensions, and rapid technological change. The Australian...

Japan Manufacturing Growth Slows in May as Services Sector Stagnates Amid Rising Middle East Supply Costs

Japans manufacturing sector continued to expand in May 2026, although growth slowed slightly as escalating supply-chain pressures tied to the Middle East conflict increased business costs and weighed on overall economic...

Moody’s Downgrades Mexico Credit Rating Amid Rising Debt and Fiscal Pressure

Moodys Ratings downgraded Mexicos long-term local and foreign-currency issuer ratings from Baa2 to Baa3 on Tuesday, while revising the outlook to stable from negative. The agency also cut the ratings for Mexicos senior...

Politics

Trump Warns Iran of Renewed Action as Nuclear Deal Talks Stall

Iran said Thursday it is reviewing Washingtons latest proposal aimed at ending the ongoing conflict, after U.S. President Donald Trump warned that military action could resume if Tehran fails to reach an agreement. The...

Trump-Taiwan Talks Could Reshape U.S.-China Relations

Taiwan said President Lai Ching-te would welcome direct talks with U.S. President Donald Trump, signaling a potentially historic moment in U.S.-Taiwan relations. If the conversation happens, it would mark the first direct...

Trump Delays Iran Strike as Peace Talks Continue, Markets Watch Strait of Hormuz Closely

Iran said it is reviewing the latest proposal from the United States aimed at ending the ongoing conflict, after U.S. President Donald Trump signaled he may delay military action in favor of reaching a diplomatic...

Raul Castro Indicted by U.S.: Cuba’s Revolutionary Leader Faces Renewed Scrutiny in 2026

Former Cuban President Raul Castro, the longtime revolutionary leader and younger brother of Fidel Castro, has been indicted by the United States over Cubas deadly 1996 shootdown of aircraft operated by the anti-communist...

Trump Warns of Renewed Military Action Against Iran as Peace Talks Stall

U.S. President Donald Trump warned that the United States is prepared to launch additional military strikes against Iran if Tehran fails to agree to a peace deal, raising fears of renewed conflict in the Middle East....

Science

Trump Administration Releases New UFO Files and Apollo Mission Records

The U.S. Defense Department has released dozens of previously classified UFO-related files following an order from President Donald Trump, sparking renewed debate over unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) and government...

China vs. NASA: The New Moon Race and What's at Stake by 2030

The space race is back and this time, its a direct competition between the United States and China for dominance on the lunar surface. NASAs Artemis II mission recently made history when four astronauts flew farther into...

NASA Artemis II: First Crewed Moon Mission Since Apollo Takes Four Astronauts on 10-Day Lunar Journey

NASAs Artemis II mission launched Wednesday, marking humanitys return to crewed lunar exploration for the first time since the Apollo era. Carrying four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft, this historic 10-day mission...

NASA's Artemis II Mission: First Crewed Lunar Journey Since Apollo

NASA's Artemis II Crew Arrives in Florida for Historic Moon Mission

The four astronauts chosen for NASAs Artemis II mission have touched down at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, marking the beginning of final launch preparations for the first crewed lunar journey in over 50 years. NASA...

Technology

SoftBank Shares Surge as OpenAI IPO Buzz and SB Energy Filing Boost AI Optimism

SoftBank Group (TYO:9984) shares soared on Thursday as investor confidence returned to the Japanese technology giant, driven by growing excitement around its artificial intelligence investments. The companys stock jumped...

X Corp Loses Legal Battle Over Australia Child Safety Fine

Elon Musks social media company X Corp has officially admitted breaching Australias Online Safety Act after failing to provide required details about its child protection measures, ending a legal dispute that lasted nearly...

Samsung Shares Surge After Strike Deal Eases Labor Tensions

Samsung Electronics Co Ltd (KS:005930) shares climbed sharply on Thursday after the company reached a last-minute agreement with a major South Korean labor union, avoiding a potentially disruptive strike. Investor optimism...

Intuit Raises Full-Year Forecast After Strong Q3 Earnings Despite Stock Drop

Intuit (NASDAQ: INTU) delivered stronger-than-expected fiscal third-quarter earnings and raised its full-year guidance, driven by growth in its AI-powered financial platform. Despite the upbeat results, Intuit stock...

Anthropic Revenue Surge Signals Strong AI Market Momentum in 2026

Anthropic is on track to dramatically increase its revenue in 2026, according to a Wall Street Journal report citing figures shared during the companys latest fundraising discussions. The artificial intelligence startup is...