High oil prices have put Angola in an economic position that is the envy of most developing countries. However, Angola has been in this situation before. This time its government is vowing not to repeat the mistakes of the past.

Qatar has gone from net borrower to being one of the fastest growing economies in the world, with a thriving banking sector. However, aware that such growth cannot go on for ever, the Qatari regulators and politicians are reassessing the country's financial systems.

Despite its small size, Qatar's energy resources are vast by global standards. However, its reliance on exporting its liquefied natural gas could face a threat in the shape of the emergence of shale gas in the US.

Qatar's successful bid to host the 2022 football World Cup is a testimony to the country's global ambitions. Development projects are already under way to fulfil stadia, hotel capacity and infrastructure requirements, giving a further boost to the country's already burgeoning economy.

Armed with new capital, BTG Pactual has been busy deal-making this year under the direction of CEO Andre Esteves.

A fall in oil prices brought Angola to its knees two years ago. A deal with the IMF has helped the economy to stabilise and signs of growth can be seen in Luanda, but to avoid a repeat of such economic hardship, more structural reforms are needed to make the country attractive for business.

Angola is increasingly attracting foreign investment, as companies start to look beyond the nation's onerous bureaucracy to its strong investment potential, political stability and increasing transparency.

A year on from a devastating earthquake and the delayed impact of the international financial crisis, banks in Latin America's most stable economy now need to focus on supporting the expansion of the middle class.

The tenacious Portugese banks have prided themselves in their ability to stick with the Angolan economy in good and bad years, but they are now facing increasing competition from foreign banks, which stress their international network credentials.

The accident at Japan's Fukushima nuclear plant in the aftermath of a devastating earthquake and tsunami has led many countries to slow down or cease their nuclear energy programmes.