Innovative sharia-compliant products are sparking global interest, and in the constrained financial climate they are catering to customers' growing risk aversion. Writer James Gavin

The global recession has elevated payments processing to near the top of bank chiefs' priority lists, but the industry is going through a fundamental structural change that could lead to a slump in revenues and soaring business costs. Writer Charlie Corbett

As a rare entrant to the senior markets, with a robust AA rating in its favour, Nordea's inaugural fixed-rate senior issue was a covetable success. Writer Edward Russell-Walling

Both governments and global regulators are pushing banks and money managers to streamline their post-trade processing operations, improve transparency and to take a real-time approach in the back-office environment.

Merrill Lynch's orchestration of the EDF purchase of British Energy was one of the most complex and drawn-out deals of its kind ever undertaken. Writer Edward Russell-Walling

With the panic subsiding fast, Brazil's equity markets have staged an astonishing turnaround allowing canny investment banks to find their feet in the country again. Writer John Rumsey

The CEO of Nomura for the EMEA region has taken the Japanese bank through its acquisition of Lehman Brothers' EMEA business and is determined to get maximum gains from the deal. Writer Geraldine Lambe

In the wake of the crisis almost everything to do with banks is being questioned - regulation, business models, corporate governance and ownership. Some fear that once burned, shareholders will be twice shy and may avoid bank stocks and bank debt altogether. State ownership is deemed a temporary measure but have private investors fallen out of love with banks? Writer Geraldine Lambe

Since unfettered risk taking has been roundly criticised for its role in the financial crisis, many may be surprised that at some banks, prop trading is right back in the mix. What role will proprietary trading play in the new model bank? Writer Michelle Price