Abu Dhabi Investment Authority makes a play for the London-Channel Tunnel high-speed rail link

Global corporate mergers and acquisitions involving sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) increased to more than $12bn in the second quarter of 2010 - a rise of $11bn from the previous quarter, according to data from Thomson Reuters. The number of deals rose to 33 from 24 between January and March.

Agricultural Bank of China could well achieve a record IPO despite a modest market debut

Agricultural Bank of China's initial public offering (IPO) - which the bank hopes will be the world's largest - has raised $19.3bn so far from investors from its listings in Hong Kong and Shanghai. If the bank exercises its overallotment options, this would take it over the $22bn mark, just above fellow Chinese bank ICBC's listing in 2006, which is the world's largest IPO to date.

President Chávez: no more nationalisations

President Hugo Chávez has sought to allay investors' fears after the Venezuelan government took over Banco Federal. The president said he has no plans to take over more banks at this time and he urged people not to withdraw their deposits. The move follows a flurry of bank nationalisations and the creation of a new regulated foreign exchange market to stop the rapid depreciation of the bolivar and stem capital flight - thought to be about $24bn last year.

The Tahawwut Master Agreement is similar to that agreed by Bank Islam (above) and Bank Muamalat in Malaysia

The Islamic finance market is set to transform with the creation of a new standardised benchmark document aimed at encouraging use of Islamic derivatives in the Middle East.