Author Archives: Darren Marchal

Financial services gain human touch in Mexico

Back in the fifties, Mifel was a small company servicing SMEs on financial strategies. Later on, it began to grow a small fund to operate with and eventually obtained the first private concession for an exchange house in Mexico back in the tumultuous and complicated eighties. In 1993, Mifel set up a leasing company and…

Not exactly an Italian holiday

For over three years, Western governments have been battling one of the most severe economic crises of the last century. It commenced with the subprime mortgage crisis in the US, Northern Rock in the UK, Lehmans, and now new rumours of uncertainty coming from Europe. In the midst of all of this, there have also…

Reforming the public sector

Many of these changes and reforms have been possible, through the use of public private partnerships. Shalakany Law Office has been working closely with the three main parties involved; the government, the service providers and the lenders, on a variety of different public partnership projects across different sectors, giving them a unique insight into inner…

Peru’s finance minister to leave this week

Peru’s Finance Minister Mercedes Araoz will be replaced in a cabinet shuffle this week, three sources in the ruling party and close to the government have unveiled. One of the sources said Ismael Benavides, who once led one of Peru’s largest banks, will be the new finance minister and that a swearing in ceremony was…

World Bank pledges $900m in flood aid to Pakistan

The World Bank will release $900m to help fund relief efforts for Pakistan’s flood disaster as international agencies warned millions of people were at risk from disease. The UN has warned that up to 3.5 million children could be in danger of contracting deadly diseases carried through contaminated water and insects in a crisis that…

Asia, LatAm job market spurs Michael Page profit

Recruiter Michael Page posted a 42 percent rise in first-half pretax profit, boosted by growing demand in Asia and Latin America, defying concerns that a sluggish economic recovery would hit job turnover. Michael Page, which finds jobs for people in financial, accounting and legal services, announced pretax profit up to £61.4m in the six months…

Credit Suisse axes 75

Credit Suisse said it was cutting around 75 jobs in its UK operations, becoming the second investment bank in as many days to slim down as economic fears hit the deal-making business. “We are currently reducing headcount by approximately 75 in the United Kingdom in the investment bank and certain support functions,” the bank has…