One veteran emerging-market investor is fond of saying that emerging markets are the ones where risk is priced in and developed markets are the ones where risk is overlooked. For many years, he and others like him were lonely voices. But today it seems the whole market agrees, which is a sure sign of trouble brewing.
The past 12 months have been turbulent for the banking sector. Despite the consequences of the credit crunch on structured credit models and transaction flows, both international and local banks have once again brought an impressive number of deals to the attention of The Banker’s judges. The global, regional and country winners have been picked from the 447 transactions submitted from 93 countries around the world.
With a new formula and an enlarged pool of participants, Deals of the Year 2007 has for the first time declared a global winner and five regional winners from the pick of the deals in 85 countries around the world. Both international and local banks have brought an extraordinary wealth of deals to the attention of The Banker’s judges. The next pages are dedicated to the well deserved accolades.
Banks around the world have achieved record profits and profitability for almost four years in a row as steady economic growth, especially in Asia, globalisation and the awakening of consumer finance in new markets continue to stimulate financial institutions. While uncertainties exist, the relatively benign environment is creating a bonanza for banks.
Though such thinking is indicative of the attention bank executives are paying to their core businesses, steps are being taken that will change the playing field. Though it appears as bordering on counter-intuitive, most mid-sized banks are making a sustained push to drive up retail customer numbers as a means of cashing in on the country’s rising tide of consumerism.
Why do experts fail to predict company failures such as Parmalat, Enron and WorldCom? To find out, The Banker invited credit and rating analysts and auditors to a roundtable discussion to explore the issues. The discussion got quite heated as the finger was pointed at the various parties and a proposal to change the way underwriters get paid was put up for debate