Welcome to a truly memorable edition of The Banker. Our Top 1000 edition has for many years become a collector’s item and this year is no exception. As well as pages of tables and figures detailing the world’s leading banks (see page 177 onwards), this issue contains a breadth of coverage that, even by the standards of our global and universal palette, is still pretty impressive.

Minister of finance Michalis Sarris insists economic indicators prove Cyprus is on track for euro adoption.

Like the machine-breaking Luddites of the Industrial Revolution, those behind the new wave of protectionism are posing a great threat to progress and economic growth, says Donald L Evans.

Gabriel Burstein explains why hedge funds are a poor long-term bet, despite a recent upsurge in returns.

Three mid-sized Chilean banks have handed their entire back-office and IT operations to national telecoms carrier Entel.

Under pressure from rating agencies, Reykjavik’s top financial brass politely make their case – unlike Venezuela’s premier Hugo Chávez.

We’re at that stage of a bull market when the bulls are still thundering but a lot of other folk – the more conservative investors, bankers and regulators – are sounding notes of caution. The phenomenon appears in several guises in this month’s edition of The Banker.

African governments and institutions are becoming increasingly professional, underpinned by an understanding of what is required to thrive in a globalised marketplace, says Patrick Cescau.

Jean-Philippe Cotis asks which kinds of reforms in Europe and Japan would help to reduce the US’s gaping external deficit.

With the global balance of economic power shifting, the role the IMF should play is increasingly uncertain.