By Rob Cox
When this columnist last attended the World Economic Forum in 2000, everything was wine and roses. The biggest M&A deals ever were popping, the Nasdaq had another 20 pct to climb and everything looked rosy. Jump 12 years forward and it’s a different, more difficult world.

De-globalisation of finance looks here to stay

By Peter Thal Larsen
The crisis has reversed a decades-old trend of increasingly international finance. Shrinking banks are shedding foreign businesses, while regulators and governments are encouraging a more national identity. The splintering so far isn’t hugely harmful, but protectionism is a risk.

Uninvited guest, Mr 99 Percent, crashes Davos

By Rob Cox
The rich and the powerful at the World Economic Forum are haunted by the shadow of the unemployed and disenfranchised. The specter is in the panels, hallway conversations and political speeches. What’s less clear is whether the gathered plutocrats can deal with income inequality.

AOL pinned down by girly startup on a shoestring

By Robert Cyran
The fading online firm hopes to regain its shine by focusing on the female demographic - an audience often ignored in male-dominated Silicon Valley. The plan has yet to pan out. Yet startup Pinterest is using the same strategy to grow rapidly - and at a fraction of the cost.

Who will pay for the euro firewall?

By Hugo Dixon
Berlin is still against increasing the size of the euro zone’s warchest. But the rest of the world doesn’t want to raise the IMF’s firepower unless the zone beefs up its own. If a deal is done, it seems likely that the Europeans will pick up 70-80 pct of the tab.

Ireland's bond swap shows how self help can work

By Neil Unmack
Greece is defaulting, Portugal may follow, but Ireland is raising funds. Dublin’s 3.5 bln euro bond swap eases fears of a liquidity crunch and will help the country return to markets during its IMF programme. It’s a step closer to normality for Ireland, and Europe.

Fed doubles risk of being whipsawed by market

By Martin Hutchinson
By extending its zero-rate commitment from about 18 months to three years the U.S. central bank has doubled the risk that markets may surprise it. Job creation, Bernanke’s departure or inflation could force a damaging reversal - or lead the Fed to drag its feet to avoid one.
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