Can greater efficiency gains be made by Spain’s cost-effective banks – and will their forays into Anglo-Saxon markets succeed? Karina Robinson reports from Madrid.

The delay of the Payments Services Directive means that the Single Euro Payments Area will go live in a phased approach. Frances Maguire looks at the impact this will have.

Although covered bond issuance is booming in the UK, legislation to bring the country in line with the EU is in the pipeline. Michael Marray reports on the advantages this will bring for the market.

New laws to combat money laundering and terrorist financing in Australia will place a big burden on banks and taxpayers as well as compromise personal privacy, warns Michael Imeson.

Given its sound financial infrastructure and current economic boom, the surge in Jordanian bank profits looks set to continue. Stephen Timewell reports from Amman.

Two banks collapse and someone forgets to replenish the nation’s cash supply – tough times for Guatemala’s financial system. But as Monica Campbell reports, there is some cause for optimism.

Are the Bank of Cyprus’s days numbered? Nick Kochan reports on the rival predators’ struggle for the bank, and the opposing forces of regulators and nationalists.

Brian Caplen discovers that market responses to concern over climate change, the risks associated with macroeconomic imbalances and the ever-present bugbear of regulation are the issues most vexing the world’s financial powerbrokers.

Whether responsibility for banking supervision in the EU lies with national central banks or with separate agencies, it must be able to stand up to pressure, argues Jean Lemierre.