With its seven-year maturity making it the longest for any sukuk drawn up by a Saudi corporate, the $1.9bn capital raising put together for the Saudi Electric Company marks a huge achievement for the HSBC Saudi Arabia team that assembled it. Writer Edward Russell-Walling
Latest articles from Banking strategies
Is the European high yield market coming of age?
July 6, 2010Good reaction: Chemical company Ineos raised €870m on the high-yield market
The European high-yield market was, for years, driven by leveraged buyout activity. Now corporates are accessing the market in their own right. So, is European high yield coming of age? Writer Joanne Hart
BNP Paribas consolidates crisis gains
July 6, 2010BNP Paribas has had a good crisis. Now, after a reorganisation at the top level of the investment bank, the challenge is to consolidate the gains it has made and expand its US and Asian presence, a task that its new global head of primary markets and origination and global head of distribution are relishing. Writer Geraldine Lambe
The future for global markets
July 6, 2010As global investors try to work out how to best achieve safe and solid returns, The Banker spoke to a group of investment professionals to find out how they are plotting their course around emerging markets, sovereign debt concerns, asset allocation and worldwide growth trends. Edited by Anindita Ghosh
Might bondholders suffer more in the next crisis?
July 6, 2010Over the past two years, financial institutions have received an estimated $1300bn in government-funded capital. This public-sector recapitalisation, coupled with extensive liquidity support, probably prevented the collapse of several banking systems worldwide.
Qatar's shining example
May 28, 2010The rapid expansion of Qatar's energy sector has given a huge boost to the country's economy - and the financial sector has been making the most of the opportunities presented by this activity. Writer Stephen Timewell
Development banks take capital route
May 28, 2010Funding from capital markets has released development banks from the constraints of national economies' budgets to invest in a plethora of projects ranging from infrastructure, exports, business start-ups and the social development and growth of transition economies.
Russia's second-tier investment banks have ambitious plans
May 28, 2010As Russian capital markets activity revives, second-tier investment banking groups have ambitious plans to share a larger slice of the business. But competition is tough. Writer Philip Alexander
The Kazakh government is supporting Islamic finance, helped by Abu Dhabi
May 28, 2010The Kazakhstan government is strongly promoting the development of Islamic finance in the country to diversify its financial sector, with strong support from Abu Dhabi. Writer Philip Alexander
Clearing and settlement remains a barrier to Australian competition
May 28, 2010The much-anticipated competition in Australia's cash equities markets is finally taking hold, but hopeful new entrants may yet be stymied by the challenges presented by the clearing and settlement infrastructure. Writer Elton Cane