For eastern European economies like Romania, the unsettled times continue. The pandemic took hit economic growth and now the war in nearby Ukraine, coupled with high energy prices and rising inflation, could lead to renewed challenges. 

The US Federal Reserve has a full agenda as it engages in battle with rising inflation. 

Last year was the most profitable year on record for Romanian banks, but this year is set to be different.

The president of the EBRD, Odile Renaud-Basso, on the bank’s support for Ukraine following its invasion by Russia.

As Asian governments ease lockdown measures and reopen borders, a group of regional economists share their thoughts with The Banker on how the region has been affected over the past two years and which sectors are in the most need of additional support for recovery. 

The Spanish banking sector has rebounded strongly from the pandemic, posting strong results for 2021. However, uncertainties remain over inflationary pressures and the evolution of interest rates. 

South Korea’s economy has bounced back strongly from the pandemic slump, thanks largely to its dominance of the semiconductor space. Yet with a presidential election on the horizon and further interest increases forecast, there is still some uncertainty as to future growth potential.

The country has recouped the lost growth from the peak of the pandemic and is set for a sustained period of growth.

Cyprus’s finance minister talks to The Banker about how the country’s economy has coped during the pandemic and the recovery ahead. 

What ‘normal’ will look like post-pandemic is not easy to predict, as inflation, rising interest rates and quantitative easing tapering lead to greater uncertainty in the year to come. Edward Russell-Walling reports.