When the Lincoln Bill was passed by the US Senate Committee and sent to the House of Representatives for debate, shockwaves ran through the US financial community. If passed, it would, among other things, close access to the Federal Reserve support window or a bailout for derivatives houses. Commodity derivatives are a huge business for banks, and the potential impact on their businesses is cataclysmic. Writer Joanne Hart

Investors looking to use structured products to access the commodities markets have been forced to learn some harsh lessons in the crisis, as have the private bankers that sold them the products in the first place. Writer Charlie Corbett

When iron ore pricing moved in March from its historic benchmark pricing structure to the spot market, users warned that prices could double. As steel and auto companies accused mining companies of unfair pricing practices, banks moved to develop new hedging products to help them manage price volatility. Writer Suzanne Miller

As international banks have pulled back their trade and commodity finance operations in Asia during the downturn, so increasingly sophisticated local players, particularly in China, are piling in. Writer Charlie Corbett

Speculative trading has been blamed for price spikes in energy and other commodities markets, but many economists point to growing demand from Asia as the real cause. Writer Geraldine Lambe

UK travel company Thomas Cook's inaugural visit to the debt capital markets proved a successful one. Its dual currency euro/sterling issue closed with impeccable timing, just before a Greek tragedy and a UK farce.

Nomura is making an audacious bid to turn itself into a global investment bank, and its co-head of global investment banking is happy with the progress made so far. Writer Geraldine Lambe