As Iceland comes back from financial collapse with the help of an austerity programme and support from the International Monetary Fund, it is now looking to return to the international capital markets with a $1bn, five-year benchmark transaction.
Western Europe
Latest articles from Western Europe
World
/ Western Europe
/ Italy
Can joined-up thinking revive UniCredit?
August 1, 2011UniCredit's new management team faces a sizeable task particularly as the eurozone crisis threatens to suck in Italy and the bank's shareprice is sliding. However, the new CEO of the corporate and investment bank, Jean Pierre Mustier, is confident that UniCredit can do it.
CEE banking giants take different investment banking routes
August 1, 2011UniCredit, Erste and Raiffeisen between them own significant market share across central and eastern Europe, but their approaches to turning local presence into international investment banking have varied.
Icelandic banks still waiting for the thaw
August 1, 2011A successful sovereign bond issue in June 2011 indicated that Iceland is gradually returning to financial normality after the collapse of its banking sector in 2008. But the three large banks that defaulted are still mired in controversy.
Iceland shows challenges of cross-border regulation
August 1, 2011The passporting of financial services across the EU was a much-lauded part of the creation of a single European market. At least until the financial crisis.
Eurozone stress tests prove to be informative
August 1, 2011Within days of the European Banking Authority's stress-test results being announced, the speed of events in the crisis-hit eurozone seemed to devalue them. However, the depth of information held within the tests is very revealing.
OTE's €500m DCM issue sets Greek challenge for BNP Paribas
June 30, 2011Issuing in Greece in the current climate is a brave move, but that did not stop telecoms company OTE entering the market earlier this year, thus posing quite a challenge for joint lead manager BNP Paribas.
World
/ Western Europe
/ UK
Fund managers must serve their clients better
June 30, 2011Fund managers should use technology and a leaner business model to provide investors with an honest, transparent and fair fee structure.
World
/ Western Europe
/ Spain
Spain's big players cushioned, cajas struggle
June 30, 2011Spain's biggest banks are shrugging off the full impact of the weak domestic economy and the collapse in the country's property market, but the country's cajas are not faring so well.
Shift in UK and Spanish banking landscapes
June 30, 2011Despite some concerns over the impact of regulation on profit, the big banks in western Europe have mostly held their ground in this year's Top 1000 World Banks ranking. However, the aftermath of the financial crisis has seen changes in the UK and Spanish banking sectors.