The earthquake in Japan in March inevitably forced short-term changes in the country’s energy consumption, but the long-term implications for energy and other commodities are far-reaching. 

The accident at Japan's Fukushima nuclear plant in the aftermath of a devastating earthquake and tsunami has led many countries to slow down or cease their nuclear energy programmes.

Asian Development Bank president Kuroda Haruhiko's calls for sound financial systems to channel Asia's savings into its own development process.

European sovereigns, supranationals and agencies supply is running at high levels, and with the market environment far from ideal, issuers are having to broaden their investor base. Placement with Asian accounts is critical to the success of many deals.

A promotion for the former head of Kazakhstan’s sovereign wealth fund suggests there is momentum behind ambitious privatisation plans in the country that could transform the local capital markets. 

While South Korea's commercial banks have just enjoyed a record year for earnings, any joy within the country's banking sector has been quelled by problems within its debt-saddled mutual savings banks.

China's quest to meet its natural resources needs has been largely concentrated on Africa, but its presence in Latin America has been creeping up over the past decade. Latam governments, however, are proving to be less co-operative than their African counterparts. 

China’s dominance in Asian finance continues to grow, but banks from the Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean) are combining good returns with high capital levels.