Alarmist predictions, while unfounded, present opportunities for investors, says William Browder.

It is time to acknowledge that there is a fundamental problem with demand and supply, which is only likely to get worse.

Deutsche Börse’s thwarted attempt to acquire the London Stock Exchange has shown that buying or selling an exchange is not a simple matter.

With computer fraud on the rise, it is crucial to ensure your systems and staff get regular health checks.

As neoconservative and George W Bush ally Paul Wolfowitz takes the top job, the developing world is keeping its fingers crossed.

If Africa is to change then key figures in Africa have to make it happen. This month, The Banker identifies eight of the major policymakers on the continent, their strategies for reform and their plans as architects of the renaissance. From South Africa’s Trevor Manuel to Congo’s Joseph Kabila, we look at the prospects, opportunities and challenges.

Linah Mohohlo, governor of the Bank of Botswana, talks to Karina Robinson about fighting Aids and watching South Africa .

Momentum is building in favour of sustainability standards but there is still a long way to go. Jane Monahan looks at the state of progress in the implementation of the Equator Principles.
What has sustainability to do with private banks? Their labour policies are good and they do not produce the carbon emissions that are the main culprits of climate change.

HSBC aims to achieve carbon neutrality this year. As well as a drive to reduce its CO2 emissions, it will consider offsets such as emissions trading, which has the potential to become a free-standing investment market. Jules Stewart reports.
It is not often that a bank makes the news as a champion of the environment. But HSBC, the world’s second-largest bank, has taken on that role with the aim of becoming the world’s first major bank to commit to going carbon neutral.

Corporate social responsibility, which in the past encompassed issues such as fair labour practices and environmental and sustainability concerns, is now increasingly focused on global financial accountability. Banks that comply early will see the benefits, advises Beth Ambrose.