Local medium-sized banks have used the risky times of Argentina’s financial crisis to put their growth and expansion strategies into action. Karina Robinson reports from Buenos Aires.

Argentina’s economy is powering ahead but it comes at the price of old-fashioned price controls and, it is alleged, the manipulation of unwelcome economic data. Karina Robinson reports from Buenos Aires.

Following successful IPOs by ICBC and Bank of China in 2006, the two banks return to the gold and silver positions in this year’s listing. Terry Baker-Self reports.

Japan’s distinctly tiered banking system could change dramatically if local government reform goes ahead, and regional banks are worried by the potential threat that a privatised postal savings bank could pose. Charles Smith reports.

Poland’s largest bank, the state-owned PKO, is operating without a head while the ruling party searches for a ‘suitable’ CEO. Jan Cienski reports from Warsaw.

Foreign investment continues flowing into Turkey’s financial system, and consumer banking and financing of small and medium-sized enterprises are becoming major business lines for the country’s commercial banks. Metin Demirsar reports from Istanbul.

Early general elections are planned to calm a political crisis and the economy is beginning to cool off, adding to concerns that progress made in recent years could unravel. Metin Demirsar reports from Istanbul.

Iceland’s banks insist they have addressed concerns raised over low deposit ratios, a lack of communications and their use of capital markets. Silvia Pavoni reports.

Is the private equity boom a result of the Asian savings glut? The Chinese current account surplus was $250bn in 2006 and is heading for $375bn this year. Foreign reserves hit $1200bn in the first three months of this year. This provides “a base level of liquidity being pumped out into the world”, says Charles Dumas, director of UK-based Lombard Street Research.

A consortium including Goldman Sachs won the mandate for a strategic review and IPO execution for Turkey’s state-owned Halkbank. A tight schedule for US distribution and a political/religious row that spilled volatility into the Istanbul stock market failed to derail the sale. Edward Russell-Walling reports.