IIF forecasts a fall in private capital inflows into emerging markets; the IMF assesses foreign influence on Chinese banking.

While rejecting numerous overtures from suitors, the London Stock Exchange has failed to go on the offensive and risks being left behind.

The UK bank’s US exposure should only be a short-term liability and shareholders will again benefit once the economy rebounds.

“Phishing” attacks and improvements in ID fraud prevention were the two key topics discussed at The Banker’s Identity Fraud Round Table in London on 5 December, chaired by Contributing Editor Michael Imeson.

Loic Chiquier summarises the housing finance findings of a World Bank assessment of east Asia’s financial markets.

Africa’s home-financing sector is generally in its infancy. The exceptions are South Africa, Ghana and a handful of east African nations. Cas Coovadia highlights the initiatives in progress.

Greater levels of securitisation or an equivalent of Fannie Mae are needed in order to overcome acute liquidity problems in Argentina’s mortgage market. Jason Mitchell reports from Buenos Aires.

Dr Friedemann Roy highlights the growing opportunities available for mortgage lenders in central and south-eastern Europe.

With increased competition, the marketing and distribution channel strategies of Indian mortgage lenders have become more aggressive.
Renu Karnad reports on a rapidly expanding market.

The International Union for Housing Finance has an important role to play in Asia and Africa, where there’s little penetration by formal sources of funding for housing, says its president, Renu Karnad.