When China begins listing its giant state-owned banks on capitalist stock exchanges, the world has definitely changed beyond all recognition. The story of China Construction Bank’s (CCB) route to the Hong Kong bourse is full of thrills and spills. Contributing editor Sophie Roell recounts the entire tale on page 76.

Former Abbey CEO Luqman Arnold tells Karina Robinson about his future plans and why it is important to take time out occasionally.

The world’s biggest illegal industry is money laundering, which is on the rise despite government efforts to curb the activity.Moises Naim evaluates the consequences in today’s financial world.

Banks have been having a good run but the critical challenge is to find future top line growth, says John Tiner.

If the US and Europe cannot agree on a common capital adequacy system, the idea of a level playing field will become a vain hope.

The German bank is ramping up its retail strategy by acquiring small banks – but is avoiding shopping at home.

For the past eight years in Britain, we have “laboured” under a government consisting of mostly spin and very little substance. Time and again, vital public sector reform has been fudged – public sector pensions being the latest example – because prime minister Tony Blair is preoccupied with his media image and has little appetite for taking tough decisions that upset domestic interest groups.

Barclays CEO John Varley talks to Karina Robinson about his strategy to maintain the bank’s position as one of the most competitive in the world.

Ending global poverty is each nation’s responsibility – but the global policies also have to be right, says President Ricardo Lagos of Chile.

There are major issues to iron out for EU emerging markets in adopting Basel II, warns the EBRD’s Piroska M. Nagy.