Most African governments are keen to liberalise their financial sectors. Kenya’s would have sent a clear signal in the opposite direction had MPs passed proposals to cap interest rates earlier in 2012. For now, such a move seems off the table. But looming elections could change that.

The growing number of EU institutions intervening on the drafting of Europe’s vital new liquidity requirements is piling uncertainties on banks and capital markets.

The process of risk-weighting assets will become even more crucial to calculating bank capital adequacy under Basel III than it is already. Which is why there is growing dissent about the unexplained discrepancies between how different banks are measuring the same risks.

The US's Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, or Fatca, was widely criticised when it was enacted by Congress in 2010. Newly proposed regulations have brought with them some concessions, as well as an intent among some European countries to share this approach, meaning that the act is here to stay.

In response to a request from the European Commission, a recent consultation paper from the European pensions body looks at ways the proposed Solvency II directive for insurers could be applied to occupational pensions. Many in the industry see far more problems than solutions in its application

New European Commission proposals to force issuers to rotate ratings agencies every three years could lead to less stable and accurate ratings.

The European Commission has published MiFID II in an attempt to shake up the financial markets. But with the EC's radical overhaul of the framework, how will it affect the over-the-counter derivatives market?

Turkish financial regulators are widely credited with steering the sector successfully through the global financial crisis. So why is the government abolishing their independence?

The European Market Infrastructure Regulation is designed to bring some much-needed stability to the over-the-counter derivatives market, but disagreements about exactly what it is should cover are slowing its progress. It is looking increasingly unlikely that the EU will not meet the G-20 deadline.

The European Commission has finalised its proposal on the fourth iteration of the Capital Requirements Directive. It makes the EU the first jurisdiction to pass into law the Basel III rules agreed last year. Many are worried about the impact it may have while European economies remain fragile.