US investment banks have been slow to enter Brazil’s capital markets, and while they now want in, the major acquisition targets have long gone. Brian Caplen reports.

The outcome of the tussle for ABN AMRO will have a decisive effect on the Brazilian banking scene, which is currently dominated by domestic players. John Rumsey reports.

A fast momentum of economic growth is providing the backdrop to new laws granting private property rights and an influx of real estate investment, as the country moves closer to liberalisation. Chris Webb reports.

In theory, joining the EU should force a country to adopt greater policy discipline. In practice, Romania’s muddy political waters and an appetite for spending are about to magnify its vulnerabilities, putting fiscal and monetary policy at odds, writes Adina Postelnicu.

After a gradual recovery from communist rule and the economic disarray of the late 1990s, Slovakia’s economy is now taking off, presenting plenty of opportunities for foreign banks. Jan Cienski reports from Bratislava.

New foreign players from HSBC to Poland’s mBank will have to settle for niche roles in a profitable banking market with little room for new entrants, writes Jan Cienski in Prague.

Recent stock market falls in the construction sector are making Spain’s seemingly invincible property market look vulnerable, with all that entails for an economy that is highly dependant on it. Neil Tyler explains.

The hands-off approach of Italy’s central bank boss Mario Draghi seems to be paying off as the country is starting to produce continental-scale banks. David Lane reports.

Africa does not have a monopoly on transaction snarl-ups, as those engaged in the credit derivatives markets in recent years are fully aware.

The great Africa opportunity awaits and it could involve higher growth in output and profits than the world has ever seen before.