Bank failures, especially in emerging markets, tend to have common characteristics that resist the best efforts of regulators.

The Financial Stability Board is looking to tighten regulation of so-called shadow banking, but conventional investment banking could be hard hit.

Despite being hugely unprofitable, the German government is reluctant to get rid of the country's regional wholesale banks, the Landesbanken.

The fact that many financial firms still have not embraced straight-through processing shows just how difficult it is to overhaul processes and how few CIOs are willing to step up to the challenge.

Offshore financial centres are often looked upon unfavourably, accused of being hubs for tax avoidance or dodgy dealings, but they are vitally important if corporations from developed economies are to stay competitive on a global scale.

The UK's Funding for Lending Scheme may be a politically attractive way to incentivise banks to step up lending to households and companies, but it could have some unintended side-effects.

The world needs China to stay engaged in international economic and financial discussions.

New international liquidity requirements favour banks based in countries with highly developed capital markets. This is harsh on well-capitalised emerging market banks.