Banco Santander’s capital raising last November was unexpected but investors responded surprisingly well. While Spanish banks have largely managed to avoid the fallout of the subprime crisis, the government is taking measures to ensure that any further global setbacks only have a minimal impact upon the country. Writer Jules Stewart.

The AIG and Lehman debacles have convinced regulators globally that a central clearing counterparty is critical for the future of the credit default swaps market. But many market participants feel that the idea is flawed. Writer Michelle Price.

The European payments landscape is undergoing a period of dramatic transformation as regulatory, infrastructural and commercial pressures force Europe’s payment providers to invest colossal amounts of human and financial resources in new technological and compliance projects.Faced with SEPA, the PSD and UK Faster Payments, the transaction banking business has rarely been busier or more inflamed by competitive pressure.

It has been an unprecedented year for the world’s banking industry. Once seen as the drivers of economic growth and prosperity, bankers are regarded by many as pariahs. This image is unfair. The collapse of confidence in the credit markets was driven by the recklessness of a few, but the impact of their actions has sent shock waves across the industry. Cash has become king and, increasingly, banks are looking towards their transaction services teams to drive revenue in 2009. Paul Camp, head of cash management for financial institutions at Deutsche Bank, talks about cash management’s evolution in 2009.

As the new trading venues around Europe grab the headlines, little attention is being paid to the liquidity providers from the US lurking in the shadows that could make or break these fledgling operations. writer Michelle Price.

The heads of major international banks spoke to The Banker about the effects of the crisis, covering areas such as pay and incentives, strategies for funding, the implications for the free market orthodoxy and what opportunities for growth, if any, 2009 might bring.

The major payment card players were out in force at the Cartes annual trade show, showing off their latest password generators for conducting online transactions, most thin enough to fit in a wallet. Writer Wendy Atkins.

Global trade flows have ground to a shuddering halt, due in part to a fundamental lack of trust between buyers, their suppliers and the banks that finance them. Could supply chain finance provide the solution? Writer Charlie Corbett.

In recent months, the securities lending market has suffered from a febrile equities environment and ongoing restrictions on short-sell positions. Can the introduction of central counterparty services restore the sector’s fortunes? Writer Frances Maguire.

Huge question marks hang over the future of Lehman Brothers’ clients’ assets as well as over the prime broker financing practice known as rehypothecation. Writer Michelle Price.