Thus far, 2012 has witnessed a marked trend of corporates eschewing bank lending and turning instead to the debt capital markets. By acting quickly, the DCM team at SGCIB has put itself at the forefront of many of these deals.

Keeping Greece in and allowing massive European Central Bank intervention are the best ingredients for saving the eurozone. But the case for common eurozone bonds is less clear.

The German structured products market is growing steadily again and providers are involved in an intense battle for market share.

E.ON's recent liability management exercise shows that German companies can indeed successfully tender for outstanding debt, and may encourage others to follow. 

Rescue packages and a rebounding economy have stabilised the German banking system. But it remains vulnerable to weak profitability, low-quality capital and exposure to cyclical industries abroad. Moreover, some believe that even the crisis has failed to force structural change. Writer Geraldine Lambe

Already home to many of the main European regulatory bodies, Frankfurt's financial centre offers the experience and stability to play a key role in helping Europe shape the future of its financial sector, says Dr Lutz Raettig.