DealZone

There’s been plenty of deal-related argument from the fast-expanding stable of Reuters columnists over the last week.

Anglo-Spanish dealmaking has a chequered recent history — look no further than Ferrovial’s (FER.MC) disastrous takeover of airports operator BAA. But this shouldn’t put British Airways (BAY.L) and Iberia (IBLA.MC) off fast tracking their planned tie-up to help stem losses, says Alexander Smith.

Tech columnist Eric Auchard says while Larry Ellison, Oracle Corp’s chief executive, “is not saying so directly yet … the unmistakable conclusion to draw is that he is ready to embark on a new wave of mergers to consolidate the business computer market, once the Sun deal closes.”

James Saft says the U.S. faces a lengthening series of request from industries and interests seeking shelter under the Troubled Asset Relief Program, most of which it should dismiss out of hand.

And Wei Gu says it’s time for Chinese banks to think local. Drawing on a Chinese idiom, she says “Chinese banks and their foreign strategic investors have been sleeping in the same bed but dreaming differently“.

For all the political noise about hedge fund regulation, today's Turner review looks like a relatively easy set of rules for the industry to stomach.

In his 126-page document, mostly about the banking sector, FSA chairman Adair Turner says the watchdog will demand more information from hedge funds and says regulators should be able make rules in areas such as capital and liquidity if hedge funds start to pose systemic risks or become "bank-like" in their activities.

And while Turner points out hedge funds can pose systemic risks, he notes the FSA's already-extensive regulation of hedge fund managers.