The world faces the worst financial crisis for decades, yet only one emerging market sovereign has so far entered default. But untested new issuers, political risk and the persistent lack of agreed restructuring mechanisms mean sovereign debt is still far from a risk-free investment. Writer Philip Alexander.

Bad times call for grand schemes, and bankers, advisers and economists are scraping around for fixes and explanations including forced mergers and the axing of the Basel capital regime. Writer Nick Kochan.

Political intrigue and a lack of leadership might yet kill the European Commission’s vision of a Single Euro Payments Area. Writer Michelle Price.

The Single Euro Payments Area, MiFID, the Target 2 Securities initiative and the Thomson-Reuters megamerger are among the hot topics at this year’s SIBOS.

The Basel Committee’s latest “guidance” is in fact mandatory regulation to shore up banks’ resistance to liquidity stress, writes Michael Imeson.

The implementation of MiFID has served to reduce transparency across the European market, causing confusion and uncertainty, writes Michelle Price.

Despite talk of China allowing foreign companies to list on the Shanghai Stock Exchange, there has been little action. HSBC and others are getting frustrated by the wait, reports Michael Imeson.

Indices fuel the global investment industry, providing a critical measure of market activity and investment performance. But do we really understand how they are created, or indeed whether they should be trusted? By Michelle Price.

Dennis Engbarth talks to opposition Democratic Progressive Party chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen about the challenges in negotiating with mainland China.

Taiwan and China are once again looking to formally agree a financial relationship. Dennis Engbarth reports.