Bank of America Merrill Lynch has had a rough year.Its CEO is being forced to retire, it is under intense regulatory scrutiny and senior investment bankers have left in droves. Yet it is holding up well in the league tables, and deal flow is looking pretty strong. Is Bank of America beating the odds and making a success of the acquisition?Geraldine Lambe reports
China's ambitions for an international financial centre in Shanghai are now clear. It has staggering market growth and a supportive policy environment, but there are still significant barriers to overcome. If China can realise its ambitions, will it be Shanghai that wins the prize? Writer Geraldine Lambe
Standing strong: China has continued to grow as a financial centre despite the global economic turbulence
The growth of the Asian banking sector continued in 2008, with China building on its dominance in the region, dwarfing India's more modest growth path, while South Korean banks' share declined. Writer Geraldine Lambe
Turkish banks, cushioned by regulations implemented in the wake of the country's financial crisis of 2001, have been largely sheltered from the recent global crisis and the majority of those listed in The Banker's 2009 rankings posted double-digit profit on capital. Writer Geraldine Lambe
The acquisition of Lehman Brothers' US capital markets and investment banking arm presented Barclays Capital with the ideal circumstances for its return to equities.
Standard Chartered has fared well by focusing on core banking services in emerging markets. But in the wake of the crisis, it is facing increased competition from domestic banks.
The CEO of Nomura for the EMEA region has taken the Japanese bank through its acquisition of Lehman Brothers' EMEA business and is determined to get maximum gains from the deal. Writer Geraldine Lambe
In the wake of the crisis almost everything to do with banks is being questioned - regulation, business models, corporate governance and ownership. Some fear that once burned, shareholders will be twice shy and may avoid bank stocks and bank debt altogether. State ownership is deemed a temporary measure but have private investors fallen out of love with banks? Writer Geraldine Lambe
Royal Bank of Canada Capital Markets' co-CEOs Doug McGregor and Mark Standish explain why the bank will emerge from the crisis stronger than ever.
The Banker's latest CIS bank rankings identify that, although Ukraine and Kazakhstan banks are the most leveraged, they also have the largest capital base to withstand the turmoil. Writer Geraldine Lambe
