Ford's Next CEO;World's Best Internet Banks

Mark Fields,who became Ford Motor Company's Chief Operating Officer on December 1,2012,is believed to the likely successor to CEO Alan Mulally when he retires in 2014.Fields,51,had been Executive Vice President and President of the Americas at the multinational automaker.He made frequent business television appearances in that role.
Global Finance magazine's World's Best Internet Bank Awards recognise banks that are innovating and prospering online.The 2012 Global Winners were as follows:
Best Overall Internet Bank:Citi
Best Corporate/Institutional Internet Bank:Citi
Best Consumer Internet Bank:Standard Chartered
The award winners are leading the way in mobile banking services;online payments;cash management;social media;Web design and integration;attracting new clients in growing markets;strengthening ties with existing clients;and boosting information security.
Rajesh Yohannan,head of Citi Asia Pacific eBusiness and global mobile,said the team has worked hard to introduce innovative features such as mobile and tablet-based location services;real time click-to-chat;electronic delivery of statements/advices;and global view of accounts.We will continually strive to raise the bar with more innovations in the Internet and mobile space to serve our customers better.
Standard Chartered has been able to attain full straight-through processing for opening credit cards;personal loans;and deposit accounts on the Internet.It allows customers to complete application forms online and submit supporting documentation through the same medium,according to Infosys.Therefore it enables the entire verification and processing for various products online.It has also boosted product cross-selling by delivering customised marketing messages based on customer behaviour,such as browsing patterns.
Citigroup(C),Standard Chartered(STAN:London),Ford Motor Company(F)

Asset Allocation:A Standard Chartered View

We believe the U.S. economy is stronger than most people believe it to be,said Steve Brice,Chief Investment Strategist at Standard Chartered Bank.We do believe we're in a more constructive risk environment,but it's not gonna be a straight line,in our opinion.
We are overweight global equities.The dividend yield in the U.S.,Japan and Germany is significantly above government bond rates.It makes total sense from a global equities perspective.We are also overweight corporate debt.We are overweight the U.S.,China and Korea.We do see high dividend yields in Malaysia,Mr.Brice added.
The case for buying Europe is based on the sentiment being awful;cheap valuations;shares trading at a 49% discount,versus a 20% premium in the U.S.;and the dividend yield at a 320 point spread to the German bund,according to Katie Koch of Goldman Sachs Wealth Management.The smart thing is to initiate or add to positions;but keep some dry powder.Up to 25% could be in emerging markets;the other 75% will include some exposure to emerging markets,which means you will have over half of your return from emerging markets,Ms.Koch explained.

Europe and America:A Standard Chartered View

The key question is,how quickly a Euro debt agreement will actually be implemented,said David Mann,Regional Head of Research Americas at Standard Chartered.It's a huge round of detail.As long as the European Financial Stability Fund can be levered up without downgrades or extra haircuts,only then can we feel more confident and that we've turned a major corner.
We won't see a pre-crisis level of employment till 2015.It's a more vulnerable economy.It's more likely you're going to see very weak growth.If you get a major shock,it will be closer to stall speed and negative growth.
We've already seen an incredible ability to cut costs,but we need to see the National Federation of Independent Business survey turn around before we can grow confidence and exceed expectations,in Mr.Mann's view.
Founded in 1853,Standard Chartered Bank's core geographies are in Asia,Africa and the Middle East.It has five locations in the U.S. offering wholesale and private banking to corporations,institutions and affluent individuals.

Asian Assets Sought

A number of banks have expressed interest in Asian assets of Royal Bank of Scotland Group.Among those interested are Standard Chartered,HSBC Holdings and Australia&New Zealand Banking Group,or ANZ.RBS is divesting commercial and retail units in eight Asian locales,such as Hong Kong,China and India.RBS has been in talks with the prospective buyers.ANZ has gone as far as to sell shares in order to raise capital to fund such purchases,among other purposes.In better times,the RBS assets might well go for a less attractive price than today.