Jane Monahan talks to Barney Frank, chairman of the US Financial Services Committee, about its plans.

Santander’s takeover of ABN Amro Banco Real has changed Brazil’s banking landscape, but the integration process may not be easy. John Rumsey reports.

Bolivia’s finance minister Luis Alberto Arce outlines a programme of state loans to small enterprises and attacks the country’s domestic banks for acting like a syndicate, stifling competition.

Bolivia’s banking sector is thriving on the back of a strong economy, despite fears of a political clash with the leftist government of president Evo Morales. Jules Stewart reports.

Vietnam’s booming economy is proving an irresistible lure for banks despite reform hold=ups and expensive valuations. Karina Robinson reports from Hanoi.

Tim Congdon laments the fact that academic monetary theory has become so technical, abstruse and remote from day-to-day practicality, that busy decision-takers in banking may start ignoring it.

India’s economic momentum along with its global ambitions are growing rapidly. But gaping holes in the range of financial products on offer required by firms for efficient capital raising and risk management could hold back further progress. Geraldine Lambe reports.

Recent turmoil shows the internal risk models of many banks are inadequate, underestimating the degree of risk exposure. The Basel Committee must therefore conduct further study before allowing banks to use the internal ratings based (IRB) approach for calculating regulatory capital, says Harald Benink.

In light of current difficulties at some of the world’s largest financial institutions, banks and insurers are advised more than ever to ensure their risk management frameworks span the entire firm. Sundeep Tucker summarises discussions at the third of three single view of risk and return round tables hosted by The Banker, this time in Hong Kong.

Regulators should worry about incentives, liquidity and the perverse impact of past regulations, and seriously re-examine their approach in the light of the incoming evidence of culpability for the credit crisis, says Raghuram G Rajan.