Albania’s banks are expected to restart lending to the corporate sector, as government attempts to lower non-performing loans and reform the judicial system continue to improve the business environment and raise hopes of a future inside the EU. Jason Mitchell reports.
The rejection of Colombia’s peace agreement via the October 2016 referendum has put the Santos government on the back foot and weakened its chances of achieving fiscal reform. Without this, the country's economy may struggle to attract much-needed foreign investment, writes Jason Mitchell.
The administration of Argentine president Mauricio Macri has largely impressed international observers and those within the finance industry with its market-friendly policies. The government's priority, however, remains turning around the country's economy, something its banks will play a role in. Jason Mitchell reports.
Sky-high inflation, a spiralling economy and a bleak foreign exchange environment in which the black market is thriving are presenting Venezuela's banks with one of the toughest tasks in global financial circles just to stay in business. Jason Mitchell looks at how those still standing are managing to cope.
Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez has ushered in massive changes to the country's banking sector, nationalising or closing banks, while introducing community banking terminals in slum areas to make banking more accessible. But is this level of public spending sustainable?
The 'soap opera' surrounding the protracted dismissal of the Argentine central bank governor by president Cristina Kirchner has damaged the country's international image and highlighted major weaknesses within its institutions. Writer Jason Mitchell
With bank lending drying up last year, many Latin American corporates turned to the bond market to strengthen their cash positions. The resulting boom has instilled a sense of confidence in the region, with firms in Brazil, Mexico and Colombia leading the way. Writer Jason Mitchell