For Incoming I.B.M. Chief, Self-Confidence Rewarded

Urban Outfitters' choice for its first female board member is raising some eyebrows.  Margaret Hayne, wife of CEO Richard Hayne, is joining the hipster brand's board, reports Gretchen Morgenson at The New York Times. 

When Steve Jobs gives you a Porsche at age 23, you know you're destined for a great life. So it is with Craig Elliott, cofounder and CEO of Pertino, a new Valley startup getting ready to emerge from stealth mode. The story begins in 1984, when Elliott, now 52, was living in Iowa taking a year off college.

As the head of client development—and one of the very few women in a managing role—at Smith Barney Morgan Stanley, I had a lucrative career in finance, and 25 years of experience under my belt. But, in my mid-50s, I was ready for something different.

The latest report from ION, the professional women network, singled out Massachusetts, for having "the highest percentage of women directors." ION's report found that 20.6% of the directors of the Fortune 500 companies based in that state are women. By contrast, according to ION's report, only 10% of the directors at Fortune 500 companies in Texas are women. Still, people wishing to celebrate Massachusetts' commitment to board diversity might not want to make a toast over a few bottles of Sam Adams beer.

Article written by Prieur du Plessis, editor of the Investment Postcards from Cape Town blog.By Cees Bruggemans, Chief Economist of FNB.One only may want to say it cautiously, but have the confidence crises been overdone? Too much false alarm? Markets overreacting in their selloffs (equities) or safety rushes (US Treasuries, Swiss Francs, gold)?