Bankers were back in force at this year's World Economic Forum meeting in Davos. Professing to be largely in agreement with regulators and policy-makers, they nonetheless warned of the perils of getting regulation wrong and the need to move on from banker-bashing and to focus on growth
Sir David King, former chief scientific advisor to the UK government, believes the UK's policy-makers and financiers fail to support its promising low-carbon sector. The Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment, which he heads, is working to change that.
Last year was unpredictable for the IPO markets. While some deals performed badly, a lot of IPOs did well and most investors made money. Risks will remain in 2011, particularly in Europe, but emerging markets are seeing a growing share of volumes and prospects are good.
Credit Suisse's client-focused model may be vulnerable when client activity is down, but the bank believes that it will deliver over the cycle and is the right one for the business environment being shaped by regulators and policy-makers.
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
A poor showing in banking league tables, a third-quarter pre-tax loss of £1.4bn, the hangover of ABN Amro... To the uninitiated, it would seem that RBS is still in turmoil. However, as its global head of banking, deputy CEO of GBM and head of EMEA explains, a deeper analysis shows signs of recovery. Writer Geraldine Lambe
With developed world governments strapped for cash, many hope the sub-sovereign or municipal bond markets can take on more of the local funding load. It may not work out that way. In Europe, sub-sovereign issuance has grown but it remains a fragmented and loan-driven market. In the US, the municipal market is huge but issuers are under increasing strain. Geraldine Lambe reports.
Recent financial experience among board chairpersons of the top 25 European banks has decreased since the financial crisis. According to the annual report from governance specialists, Nestor Advisors, only 64% of chairpersons in the segment in 2010 had relevant financial experience, down from 80% in 2007.
The Chicago Mercantile Exchange has struggled to establish itself in credit default swap clearing against stiff opposition. However, it sees plenty of opportunities, starting with the launch of new trading platforms and the growth of business and partnerships overseas. Writer Geraldine Lambe
The world has come a long way since the lurid headlines of 2008 warning that support for the banking sector would cost governments around the world trillions of dollars. While dangers still persist, money is steadily starting to return to government coffers. Writer Geraldine Lambe