Why are capital markets in developing countries so far behind those of their more developed neighbours? The Banker spoke to experts at an International Finance Corporation conference to discuss strategies for getting things moving. Edited by Silvia Pavoni.

Every inch of Europe’s trading universe will be touched by MiFID II, which takes effect from January 2018. It may achieve its goals of investor protection and supervisory oversight but this could come at the expense of less liquidity, less competition and a string of other unintended consequences, writes Danielle Myles. 

South Korea’s capital markets are thriving despite threats of aggression from North Korea, as well as business and political scandals at home, writes Michael Imeson.

With consumer confidence on the rise, unemployment at an eight-year low and investor perceptions changing for the better, Spain appears to be emerging from the economic doldrums. David Wigan reports on the forces driving the recovery and finds that – despite some reasons for caution – it appears to be gathering momentum.      

Following the 2012 bailout of the Spanish banking system, investor trust in the country's financial institutions is on the up – giving a welcome boost to its equity capital markets. David Wigan reports.

As Russia contemplates a restructuring of its creaking pensions system, investors expect a positive effect on the securities market with the introduction of private individual pension capital accounts. However, the market is still immature and many decisions on reform are still to be made. Stefanie Linhardt reports from the International Financial Congress (IFC) in St Petersburg. 

Foreign demand for Colombia’s peso-denominated bonds has been a boon for a country struggling with low commodity prices. But for how long will market confidence stay high? Jacopo Dettoni reports.

Chinese outbound M&A boomed in 2016, but then macroeconomic imbalances and a growth in potentially speculative investment sparked regulatory tightening to contain flows. So how is the market faring in 2017? Stefania Palma investigates.

Following the 2008 global financial crisis, Pakistan Stock Exchange former managing director Nadeem Naqvi was recruited to steer a course via consolidation and regulation of the regional exchanges, and regain emerging market status for the PSE and oversee its listing. Edward Russell-Walling reports. 

Created in 2012, Latam has become Latin America’s leading airlines group. Efforts to manage its debt suffered a false start in 2016 but, as David Wigan reports, earlier this year its bond offering took off.