The Swedish economy has bounced back well from the crisis, with banks among the main beneficiaries. Leading bankers at three of the country's biggest banks - Nordea, Swedbank and Handelsbanken - explain how they have achieved such impressive results. 

The German structured products market is growing steadily again and providers are involved in an intense battle for market share.

European sovereigns, supranationals and agencies supply is running at high levels, and with the market environment far from ideal, issuers are having to broaden their investor base. Placement with Asian accounts is critical to the success of many deals.

The collapse of its government earlier this year and subsequent political wrangling, together with less than optimistic trading figures, has left many fearing for the economic future of Lebanon. But the region has a long history of resilience in the face of adversity.

The conservative approach adopted by Lebanon's largely family-owned banking sector over the past decade has served it well in the post-crisis environment. Now its key players are increasingly eyeing an expansion into the frontier markets of eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa. 

Riad Salameh, governor of the Banque du Liban, tells The Banker how the country's banks have been unaffected by the turbulence in the Middle East and north Africa, and explains why they have been performing so well of late.

The Czech and Slovak republics headed down different paths when Slovakia adopted the euro in 2009 but the business model and performance of the two countries’ banks remain remarkably similar.

Scotia Capital provides its oil and gas clients with in-depth geophysical expertise, something that vice-chairman Adam Waterous believes is just as important as advice on the structuring of mergers and acquisitions.