Better disclosure, improved corporate governance and further progress in devising sharia-compliant derivatives are among the crucial requirements. By Shamshad Akhtar.

Inflation may be well above target but Uganda’s central bank earns high marks from bankers for emphasising risk management. The Banker talks to David Okiopello, acting deputy governor of the Bank of Uganda.

The European commissioner for the internal market has been at the forefront of the Sepa initiative since taking up office in 2004. Here, he answers the market’s criticisms of the project and discusses how it has been handled at European level.

When Barclays Bank takes part in a local currency scheme, others should pay attention. Writer Chris Skinner.

Barclays Capital’s rare £250m value in-force deal for Aegon Scottish Equitable proved there is a growing appetite for securitisations among insurers. Writer Edward Russell-Walling.

Understanding UK bank strategies can be difficult. The past year has seen not only Royal Bank of Scotland’s joint acquisition of the Netherlands’ giant ABN AMRO but also the disastrous run on Northern Rock, record 2007 profits at HSBC Holdings and, last month, RBS’s first half-year loss in 40 years, following $11.4bn in writedowns.

The European Union is in the midst of a massive regulatory upheaval in an attempt to realise its goal of a single market in financial services.

UNCTAD secretary-general Supachai Panitchpakdi speaks to Lara Williams about strengthening the organisation’s role in making developing countries part of the world economy.

Paraguay’s new finance minister tells Hugh O’Shaughnessy why the country cannot make the most of its natural assets.

State Bank of India chairman Om Prakash Bhatt tells Karina Robinson how the bank’s mission is more than delivering higher profits.