The global recession is nothing new to Turkey's bankers, who have learnt the lessons of the country's economic crisis of 2001 and are showing great resilience as their global peers falter. Writer Metin Demirsar
World
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Who's afraid of the IMF?
May 5, 2009
The full force of the global recession has hit Turkey with falls in exports leading to job cuts. Bankers say an IMF deal would help but the government is reluctant. Writer Metin Demirsar
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, prime minister of Turkey
Weathering the storm
May 5, 2009Although not caught at the epicentre of the financial hurricane, the Portuguese economy's hopes of an upturn after four years of slow growth have been hit by the global recession. However, the country's trade links with Africa and Latin America and its lack of subprime exposure are giving some cause for optimism. Writer Peter Wise
Portuguese banks offer customers a safety net
May 5, 2009In the wake of the global financial crisis, Portugal's leading banks are focusing on improving relations with both corporate clients and individuals, as well as expanding overseas, as a means to boost their ailing profit margins. Writer Peter Wise
To the Balkans and Beyond
May 5, 2009Over the past decade, Greece's leading banks have expanded into south-east Europe. To remain competitive, however, they will now need to weather the financial storm and continue to focus on increasing their presence in the Balkans and the rest of eastern Europe. Writer Kerin Hope
Greece gears up for tough times
May 5, 2009Greece's service-based economy has been less exposed to the global downturn than elsewhere in Europe, but a positive outlook for 2009 will largely depend on how the tourist industry performs and whether lines of credit will remain available to smaller businesses. Writer Kerin Hope
Outside influence
May 5, 2009The state-owned Banque et Caisse d'Epargne de l'Etat may be performing well, but Luxembourg operations of Fortis and Dexia have encountered problems as the knock-on effect of the recession in powerful neighbouring economies takes its toll on one of the world's smallest countries. Writer Nick Kochan
Bright vision in a gloomy climate
May 5, 2009Abu Dhabi's second Islamic bank was launched almost a year ago, just before the global financial crisis hit the Middle East. Despite this Al Hilal Bank continues to expand. Writer Mike Imeson
Can Islamic finance plug the funding gap?
May 5, 2009The global financial crisis has limited the finances available for major projects in the Middle East. But this could be an opportunity for Islamic financiers to come up with sharia-compliant finance to make up for the shortfall of Western funds. Writer James Gavin
Mohammed Al-Hussein
April 7, 2009Syria's financial services sector reforms of 2004 have had a beneficial effect on the economy, as the country's finance minister explains. Writer Jules Stewart