Increased competition from public sector banks, criticism from the president, a weakening economy and aggressive interest rate cuts are combining to make life difficult for Brazil's private banks. Will an efficiency drive see them emerge leaner, smarter and stronger?

A wealth of opportunities are opening up in Latin American debt capital markets, but Itaú BBA’s head of investment banking is keen to ensure that the bank does not neglect its still-lucrative domestic market while chasing these opportunities.

Smart regulation and innovative local lenders have helped build Chile's economic might. And with plans to link the country's stock exchange to the exchanges in Peru, Colombia and Mexico, the country is mounting an attack on Brazil's economic dominance in Latin America.

The expansionary monetary policies of developed countries is making life difficult for those in the developing world. So says Chile's central bank governor, who is keen to resist a 'currency war' – for now – and also tells The Banker why central bank independence is of great importance.