Urgent changes are needed in the way the Sarbanes-Oxley Act is being interpreted, if it is not to cost more than it\'s worth and fail in its purpose, says Tim Leech.

Striking a balance between returns and their accompanying risks is at the heart of good decision making. Triphonas Kyriakis explores the models, mixes and time periods available

NEW YORK, June 17 - US regulators will work with the accord implementation group (AIG) of the Basel Committee to minimise any problems arising for foreign banks from US policy on the Basel II minimum capital rules on bank safety, US Federal Reserve Board vice chairman Roger Ferguson said today.

WASHINGTON, June 11 - The US Sarbanes-Oxley Act on corporate governance is a wake up call for everyone involved in designing and testing a system of internal controls, US Federal Reserve Board governor Susan Bies said today.

LONDON, June 12 - UK regulators are in fruitful talks with their US counterparts on the so-called home/host issues raised by the complex Basel II bank minimum capital rules that are aimed at making the world\'s banking system safer, a senior UK regulator said today.

LONDON, June 5 - European regulators have dropped the idea of allowing banks a wider use of operational risk insurance to reduce op risk capital charges in the European version of the complex Basel II rules on bank protective capital.

Lower long-term reporting costs for banks is one of the benefits expected from the use of XBRL in the modernisation of the way US banks report quarterly on their condition and income to their federal regulators.

Banks in the United Kingdom, France, Switzerland and the Nordic region look likely to be among the winners under the proposed New Basel Capital Accord. By contrast, banks in Italy, Germany and the Benelux countries could be among the losers, according to a new study published today.

New York, June 10 - US subsidiaries of foreign banks were urged by a senior US banking regulator today to let both their US and home country supervisors know of any problems the US application of the Basel II capital rules might cause them.

BRUSSELS, June 25 - The European Commission hopes to issue its third and final consultative paper on Europe\'s version of the complex Basel II minimum capital rules for bank safety on June 27 this week, Commission officials said today.