Bush withdraws mortgage regulator nominee - 2004-01-22
President George W. Bush on Wednesday withdrew his nominee to lead the agency that oversees the finances of the nation's top mortgage finance companies, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, as congressional debate continued on improving their oversight after an accounting scandal at Freddie Mac.

Bush had tapped derivatives expert Mark Brickell last February to serve as director of the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight.
Read the full story at Reuters

Boards require derivatives expertise - 2004-01-22
Australian banks should have at least one board member able to manage the trading of products as complicated as currency options, former Reserve Bank of Australia chairman Bernie Fraser said.

"Whether it is the case [in the major banks], I don't know," he said yesterday.

Mr Fraser is also the governor of mortgage lender Members Equity, which is attempting to step up competition to Australia's banks in home lending.
Read the full story at Sydney Morning Herald