Saudi Arabia stuttered during the global financial crisis, but never plumbed the depths of the world's more developed economies. Now, the country's leaders are eyeing a more prosperous future, with a key focus being on educating and employing its youth and women.

Two central counterparties are currently being built to clear foreign exchange options. There is a great deal of preparation to be done.

Though the Central American banking sector shows some mixed results, The Banker's ranking demonstrates just why the region's leading banks are drawing global attention.

Once renowned as one of the most dangerous countries on the planet, Colombia has tackled much of its drug-related problems and boasts one of the best-performing economies in Latin America, which is attracting international investment and in turn creating myriad opportunities for the country's banks.

Despite a sovereign default and the impact of rolling popular uprisings across north Africa, many are increasingly hopeful about the prospects for Africa's debt markets, as improving economic conditions and growing international appetite look set to underpin further new issuance.

Qatar's decision to ban conventional banks from operating sharia-based finance units within its financial jurisdiction has left observers concerned the central bank has set the wrong kind of precedent, one that is likely to create uncertainty in banking throughout the Middle East.