Global merger and acquisition deal activity continues to drop year on year, with July seeing a fall of 62% in announced transactions compared with the previous year.

The region has seen strong recovery post-pandemic, but obstacles to growth are forming in the shape of rising energy and food prices, inflation and impending political events.

The Banker’s Top 1000 World Banks ranking for 2022 saw a mixed picture for European banks’ capital positions, with almost every lender in the top 10 table for central and eastern Europe seeing a rise in their Tier 1 capital, yet the opposite was true for western Europe. 

Financial services boardrooms in Europe continue to be dominated by men, according to a recent report by EY. 

After a mixed performance last year, 21 of the Middle East's 25 largest lenders have achieved improved positions in The Banker’s Top 1000 World Banks ranking for 2022.

All but one of the largest 25 African lenders in The Banker’s Top 1000 World Banks ranking for 2022 posted an increase in Tier 1 capital.

Chinese banks now make up half the top 10 in the The Banker's Top 1000 World Banks ranking, though Asia-Pacific overall accounts for a smaller total of global profits than last year.

The minimum Tier 1 capital of a bank within The Banker's Top 1000 ranking now stands at $556m, up from $547m last year.