Karina Robinson interviews Tommaso Padoa-Schioppa, Italy’s minister of economy and finance, the man tasked with the unenviable job of reeling in the nation’s budget deficit.

Mexico’s chief banker is not alone in criticising foreign banks’ inroads and influence on nascent markets. But do they really do more harm than good? Karina Robinson weighs up the arguments.

Sándor Csányi, chairman and chief executive of OTP Bank, tells Karina Robinson that the bank’s new acquisitions will bring a wealth of opportunities.

Competition among South Korea’s financial institutions is intensifying, and consolidations are still on the cards. Local giants such as Shinhan Bank are looking to neighbouring markets for opportunities. Karina Robinson reports.

Central bank governor Sheikh Salem remains positive about Kuwait’s prospects of becoming a financial centre… eventually. Karina Robinson talks to him.

As Maybank and CIMB encroach on each other’s strongholds, there is one area that looks large enough to accommodate them and others – Islamic banking. Karina Robinson, in Kuala Lumpur, reports.

What Standard Chartered lacks in raw size, it more than makes up for in terms of emerging markets presence and knowledge as well as exemplary management policies, making it a prime takeover target. 

Lee Hsien Loong, Singapore’s prime minister, tells Karina Robinson that the city state’s continued success depends on self-betterment of the unskilled.

London Metal Exchange chairman Donald Brydon tells Karina Robinson that change at the institution is unavoidable but a sell off is not on the books.

Heng Swee Keat, managing director of the Monetary Authority of Singapore, the country’s central bank, tells Karina Robinson why a ‘friendly’ environment is vital.