1.THE Big Four banks have morphed into a ‘Big Two’ and the corporate watchdog isn’t happy about their growing power.Big Four banks morph into ‘Big Two’

2.When JPMorgan Chase & Co. slashed its dividend 87% in February, from 38 cents to 5 cents per quarter, it marked one of the last dividend holdouts to crumble in the face of the financial crisis. “Extraordinary times must call for extraordinary measures,” CEO Jamie Dimon said in explaining the move. JPMorgan is among the few large banks to remain profitable. Even so, an extra $5 billion a year in capital should come in handy as it fights declining loan quality.To Cut or Not to Cut: the Dividend Dilemma

3. India’s state-run companies, including Oil & Natural Gas Corp., the largest energy explorer, and Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd. may benefit from an election that saw Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s party win the biggest voter mandate in two decades.India’s State-Run Companies May Benefit From Singh Victory: Chart of Day 

4. Recognizing the role financial engineers are playing in the current global stock-market rally will help investors identify just how they are being hoodwinked. Irresponsible comments from central bankers and government officials aside, it is the people who talk up their own books who merit the most ire Easy bets with other people’s money

5.Swollen loan losses, soaring writedowns and slumping profits – it’s enough to… Banks walk tightrope while hoping to cushion profit

Photo – Santiago Stock Exchange, Chile