There are some events which carry a certain air of inevitability, such that when you hear of them, your surprise is sharp but brief. Such is the news that - pending due diligence - ING will sell its Asian equity broking operations. The Dutch firm's exit from equities had been forecast by many in the broking industry, with predictions first mooted of its departure over two years ago.
Indeed, after the closure of SG, WI Carr and Dresdner's Asian broking operations, there were some who predicted ING would soon follow suit.
To its credit, ING is exiting Asian broking with somewhat more dignity than its European counterparts. The latter simply...
