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ArchiveMay 1 2001

With many of the world's economies expecting a rough ride, The Banker takes a closer look at some of those affected

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In these torrid times how can banks replenish their capital and finance acquisitions? This month we examine the challenges and the options banks face in financing themselves and staying on the right side of the regulators. Are preferred shares the answer? Meanwhile, as corporate bonds take a beating, asset-backed securities are booming and the commercial paper market finds new followers. And, as Alan Greenspan tries to conjure an economic miracle in the US, our Bracken column considers the impact of political actions in a world of globalised capital movements.

In Europe, Germany's Pfandbriefe concept is spreading fast, Italian banks are looking healthy but unsure of their future, and Macedonia is attracting attention. Elsewhere, Turkey's crisis unfolds, a bank merger in Sweden rocks the Baltics, and Croatia is making steady progress.

In Asia, Japan's four new megabanks begin life in a hostile environment with questions over strategy. In Pakistan, depositors remain wary of putting their money in banks and India's banks are exposed to financial scams and crises in the stockmarkets. And how well have Malaysia's 54 financial institutions been merged into 10 banking groups? In Argentina, Domingo Cavallo returns, hopefully to weave his financial magic on his beleaguered economy. In South Africa the big banks are focusing on microlending, while massive oil surpluses are not enough to cheer banks in Kuwait.

In Asia, we examine who are the leading investment banks in the region and why, while in Europe our quarterly M&A review lists the winning investment banks as well as the leading lawyers. In services, the European credit card market comes in for close scrutiny while in retail, the prospects for stand alone e-banks are considered as is the role of the internet and the availability of cash machines as the critical 1 January 2002 date approaches.

Along with profiles of Brazil's finance minister, Pedro Malan, and the chairman of the Central Bank of Russia, Victor Gerashchenko, this issue includes three supplements on China, straight through processing and customer relationship management. A feast of financial data and opinion.

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