Marcos Martínez, head of the Association of Mexican Banks and CEO of Santander México, believes reforms will be back on track soon, now that a vote recount has confirmed conservative Felipe Calderón as the country’s new president.

Jane Monahan in La Paz explores the paradox of radical Evo Morales boosting the county’s banking sector.
If it was just officials in the 10-month old Bolivian government of President Evo Morales who expressed optimism about the landlocked country’s prospects, it might not be so convincing.

Laos’ banking sector is small and underdeveloped but this may change as the country gradually liberalises its economy. Nick Freeman reports from Vientiane.

The sale of a majority stake in Pakistan’s Union Bank to Standard Chartered marks a growing optimism in the country’s banking sector. But will forthcoming elections and regional conflict dampen its success? Farhan Bokhari reports from Karachi.

Independents stay ahead of the pack, acquisitions continue apace and rationalisation is under way.

Tatarstan’s Ak Bars Bank is well on its way to fulfilling its aim of making Russia’s Top 10. John McCarthy reports.

Despite political uncertainty, in the first half of 2006 corporate bond issuance in Ukraine was beginning to look very healthy. Ben Aris reports on the fledgling market.

Concerns are growing over the creation of a new unified financial industry regulator that will reduce the independent overseeing powers of the central bank and its chief. By Jan Cienski in Warsaw.

Location has always proved crucial to Cyprus’s prosperity, and the recent crisis in Lebanon highlighted its role as a safe place to do business for banks, corporates and private investors. Nick Kochan reports.

The recently announced merger of Banca Intesa and Sanpaolo IMI marks progress in the Italian banking sector: it is market driven and looks good for the bulk of the banks’ investors. David Lane reports from Milan.