E-banking comes to town: Exploring how traditional UK high street banks are meeting the challenge of technology and virtual relationships

UK high street banks are continuing to extend the choice of channel through which customers can manage their moneycolon; an obvious example is e-banking. They have been keen to exploit technological advances and changing customer attitudes to alternative channels. Additionally, competition from leaner new market entrants has provided an added incentive to adopt new approaches. In the light of such developments, it is worth reflecting on the changing nature of the bank–customer relationship. This paper suggests that banks are finding it difficult to manage relationships effectively due, in large measure, to the sheer volume of customer data generated by new interactive, technology-based channels. Paradoxically, it seems that the more data banks have about customers the less likely they are to know them on a personal level. It is further suggested that channels such as e-banking potentially reduce the level of personal contact between bank and customer to the extent that a ‘virtual’ relationship develops. This paper concludes that, given the tendency towards ‘virtualisation’, it is inconceivable that bank–customer relationships will become any more intimate in the future. Indeed, a greater degree of personalisation in customer communication may be the very best that banks are able to offer.     

特色经济:西部民族地区落实科学发展观的契入点

经济竞争的实质是特色经济和特色产业的竞争。特色经济具有优势性、效益性、连带性、可持续性、动态性等基本特征。大力发展特色经济,是西部民族地区落实科学发展观的契入点和必然选择。     

Consistent estimation in the bilinear multivariate errors-in-variables model

A bilinear multivariate errors-in-variables model is considered. It corresponds to an overdetermined set of linear equations AXB=C, A∈ℝ^m×n, B∈ℝ^p×q, in which the data A, B, C are perturbed by errors. The total least squares estimator is inconsistent in this case.  An adjusted least squares estimator is constructed, which converges to the true value X, as m →∞, q →∞. A small sample modification of the estimator is presented, which is more stable for small m and q and is asymptotically equivalent to the adjusted least squares estimator. The theoretical results are confirmed by a simulation study. Acknowledgements. We thank two anonymous reviewers for their suggestions and corrections.? A. Kukush is supported by a postdoctoral research fellowship of the Belgian office for Scientific, Technical and Cultural Affairs, promoting Scientific and Technical Collaboration with Central and Eastern Europe.? S. Van Huffel is a full professor with the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven.? I. Markovsky is a research assistant with the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven.? This paper presents research results of the Belgian Programme on Interuniversity Poles of Attraction (IUAP V-22), initiated by the Belgian State, Prime Minister's Office – Federal Office for Scientific, Technical and Cultural Affairs of the Concerted Research Action (GOA) projects of the Flemish Government MEFISTO-666 (Mathematical Engineering for Information and Communication Systems Technology), of the IDO/99/03 project (K.U. Leuven) “Predictive computer models for medical classification problems using patient data and expert knowledge”, of the FWO projects G.0078.01, G.0200.00, and G0.0270.02.? The scientific responsibility is assumed by its authors.     

There's something about saving …

The paper considers how people should plan their saving, given certain assumptions about inheritance and changes in household circumstances. The results are produced by a model that takes into account tax and state benefits as well as various private savings vehicles. It concludes that, for many households, saving for retirement through a ‘pension’ might not be optimum and that the best strategy is to vary the incidence and allocation of saving in response to changes in household circumstances.     

路过天空——深圳航空平面广告创意手记

曾经读过泰戈尔的这句“天空没有翅膀的痕迹，而我已飞过”。无奈地承认，这曾是对天空最美丽的想象。不过生存要继续。2006，深航，我们要继续为它构筑在天空的远大版图。 航空业显然是不轻松的，高风险低回报，加之油价上涨、外航潜人、国内航空公司3＋X竞争局面的加剧…在高度发展的商业社会中，天空中也有狭路相逢之时。     

2005年国外大石油公司经营状况及发展动向

2005年,埃克森美孚、BP、壳牌、雪佛龙和道达尔的净利润总额达到1131亿美元,比上年上涨了29%;油气产量同比下降了3%,原油加工量和油品销售量也出现明显滑坡;受天然气储量增长的拉动,年末剩余可采油气储量为739亿桶油当量,与上年基本持平,油气储量接替率为107%,比上年增加了46个百分点,但石油储量接替率仅为62%;单位油气生产成本为4.92美元/桶,比2004年增加了20.4%.在新的经营环境下,五大石油公司对经营战略进行了调整.一是在加大投资力度的同时,保持审慎的投资原则,资本支出增幅小于国际原油价格上涨幅度.二是为利润的长期增长进行战略性投资,继续推行向上游倾斜的政策.三是进行资产优化组合,剥离成本高、缺乏发展潜力的非战略核心资产,提高资本回报率.四是选择符合发展战略、资产匹配性好的中型石油公司进行并购,以实现近期产量增长目标.五是为了减少再投资的风险,增加派息和股份回购,将高油价所带来的超额盈利回报股东.六是发展替代能源和可再生能源.