A phoenix from the ashes? (TT Nov03 p34-35)

What a fiasco! For a nation that has prided itself on its level of financial sophistication, we seem to have ended up in a pretty sorry state. A swift review of the key institutions involved shows a story of corruption, incompetence and failure as the most common themes. From banks such as Barings going bust, the shame of the old Lloyds Corporation, the mis-selling of pensions, precipice bonds and endowment policies, even our historical auction houses – all seem to have been tainted to some extent. It’s not surprising therefore that investors and the general public have lost faith in anything to do with the financial services industry.