Trimming off unprofitable Latin American business and expanding further in Europe are just two prongs in Emilio Botin's strategy for Santander Central Hispano. Karina Robinson reports.

As world leaders, bankers and non-governmental organisations gather in Monterrey, Mexico, for the Financing for Development conference, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan tells The Banker about his hopes for the summit.

Karina Robinson interviews Pedro Malan, Brazil's finance minister, who has less than two years left in office before elections.

Karina Robinson talks to Fred Goodwin, group chief executive, Royal Bank of Scotland.

Karina Robinson talks to the FSA’s Sir Howard Davies.

Guillermo Ortiz looks thoroughly at home in his opulent offices at the Central Bank of Mexico. But, as he points out, in the early 1980s he was already ensconced in the Bank’s economic research bureau.

Emilio Botín, co-chairman of Banco Santander Central Hispano explains how mergers can help achieve shareholder value.