Credit Suisse - Microsoft launch Internet partnership

Credit Suisse's online investment service will be a part of MSN's new MoneyCentral personal finance channel in Britain, France and Germany in the next few weeks, the group said. From 2001, the two companies will also cooperate over financial and business services on the MSN portals in Spain, Italy and Switzerland. "The launch of the new MoneyCentral business in Europe and MSN's position as number one European and global Internet portal were the two prime reasons for us to select Microsoft as our partner," said Lukas Muehlemann, chief executive of Credit Suisse Group.

"This will make a significant contribution towards reaching our objectives in the European market." MoneyCentral has already been launched in the United States. Credit Suisse's online Global Investment Portfolio aims to tap the market for providing services to 40 million people identified as Europe's "new affluents," the banking group said.

(AP)