This year, with multiple initial public offerings cancelled and some performing badly in the aftermarket, it is unsurprising that equity market participants are disgruntled. Is the IPO process broken and, if so, how can it be fixed?

Designed to eliminate volatility for issuers, ABBs can be tricky for banks. The risks are asymmetric and, for deals fully underwritten by syndicates, getting the pricing wrong can lead to big losses. Is the ABB process paying off for banks?

Turmoil in global equity markets has severely dented hopes that initial public offering activity would recover by the end of the year. But bankers insist that the IPO market is still open and that just one successful, high-profile deal will lead the way for others. 

Equity markets have had a rough ride in the first half of 2011. Recently, there have been some glimmers of hope, but investor confidence will not be restored until there is renewed belief in global economic growth.