IBS Journal | Editor's note

There are different ways for suppliers to approach a new country. They more or less come down to: find a partner, set up a direct presence, or make an acquisition. All are fraught with difficulties. The problems with the acquisition route are being ably highlighted at present by Temenos in France.

IBS Journal | Editor's note

When it comes to outsourcing, banks in the UK have traditionally stuck to non-core business areas. But has the time come to extend it to core as well?

IBS Journal | Editor's note

Just when you think that the market is about to take a break from large-scale acquisitions and digest the ones that have already taken place, new big-ticket deals surface.

IBS Journal | Editor's note

As Islamic finance continues to expand its worldwide footprint so does the Islamic banking systems market. In this issue, IBS Journal examines the pattern of travel of Shari'ah-compliant systems in the course of 2009 and highlights an interesting trend – the focus of the vendors seems to have shifted from the traditional stomping ground of the Middle East to less explored regions of Asia Pacific and Africa.

IBS Journal | Editor's note

Being small doesn't equate to being insignificant. With large-scale deals being more of an exception than a rule these days, medium and small-sized financial institutions are taking the centre-stage in the vendors' business chase.

IBS Journal | Editor's note

Amidst the changing market dynamics, in large part brought about by the financial crisis, will there be a growing role for back office outsourcing? The arrival of a number of would-be providers in the last couple of years suggests some at least feel the timing is right but previous rushes of enthusiasm have failed to produce tangible results. Is it another false dawn?

IBS Journal | Editor's note

If Barack Obama's recently unveiled banking reforms are more successful than his healthcare ones, what will be the implications for banks and their system strategies?

IBS Journal | Editor's note

M&A continues to be a regular theme in the news. ACI Worldwide, Sofgen and SS&C are just a few that have been shopping. London Stock Exchange's ambitions, however, beat them all. The ink has barely dried on its acquisition contract of MillenniumIT, and the exchange is already nearing the close of 'exclusive talks' concerning the acquisition of its direct competitor, Turquoise, a multilateral trading facility (MTF), which was actually set up by a group of investment banks to rein in the LSE's monopolistic pricing and service practices.

IBS Journal | Editor's note

The continued lack of understanding by most banks of their corporate customer needs is startling. It doesn't take long when talking to corporates to find areas of exasperation; that emotion is now mixed with a lack of trust as a result of the banking crisis and credit shortage. Are things only getting worse or are there any glimmers of light?

IBS Journal | Editor's note

'Under pressure' and 'on the back foot' were two of the phrases used to describe Swift at this year's annual gathering, Sibos. In IBS's 18 years of attendance at the show (it was Hong Kong first time around, in 1991), this was unprecedented.