Indices fuel the global investment industry, providing a critical measure of market activity and investment performance. But do we really understand how they are created, or indeed whether they should be trusted? By Michelle Price.

As the rest of Africa ponders how to feed its inhabitants in the next few years, Zambia’s finance minister Ng’andu Magande tells Charlie Corbett that there is no food crisis in his country – but there are other obstacles to future prosperity.

Kuwait’s booming economy is heavily oil dependent, but banks are beginning to look outside the country to strengthen operations and diversify their offer, Stephen Timewell reports from Kuwait.

Bermuda’s highly successful model as an offshore financial centre has inspired its share of imitators, but the banking sector is working hard to keep its edge, Philip Alexander reports from Hamilton.

Jamaica’s banks are not too worried about the global credit crunch as the sector shows full recovery from the 1990s crisis, 

Three elections in two years and an inflation overshoot are compounding the uncertainty for Serbia’s banks, but foreign players still see great potential. Nick Saywell reports from Belgrade.

Reliance on external markets for refinancing is one of the weaknesses in Russia’s banking system. Brian Caplen reports on this and other factors that are holding back the sector’s development.

Vienna Stock Exchange’s strategy is raising its profile internationally as it develops indices and a data distribution network, Geraldine Lambe reports.

An investigation into the credit default swaps market is adding to the Icelandic banking system’s woes, but banks’ soundness and international reach should help them once the storm is over, writes Silvia Pavoni.

Santander CEO Alfredo Sáenz tells Karina Robinson that while M&As are there for the taking, it is imperative not to act hastily in the troubled market.