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.

Jacqueline Guichelaar, general manager, technology operations, National Australia Group, tells Dan Barnes of the importance of marrying technology and business decision making.

Macquarie’s aggressive global acquisition trail is being followed by other Australian niche specialists. However, there are concerns about risk management practices, Virginia Marsh reports from Sydney.

Measures to open India’s banking market to global competition are under attack from foreign banks for being too slow, and from state bank employees for being too rapid and drastic. Michael Imeson reports.

Nick Freeman in Ho Chi Minh City reports on Vietnam’s widening spectrum of domestic bond issuers and investors.

Nobody knows how to do business in Asia better than Standard Chartered. The bank has continued to prove its entrepreneurship in emerging markets thanks to exemplary management policies and a motivated multicultural staff.

Muhammad Yunus and Gremeen Bank show how microfinance loans can help to conquer poverty.

The Hong Kong government is taking active steps to improve co-ordination of the development of its financial infrastructure with that of mainland China, writes Sir David Li.

The sale of 40% of Kazakhstan state oil exploration and production company KazMunaiGas in a two-part offering was a roaring success, despite oil prices falling as the deal was going down. The Credit Suisse team responsible for “driving the execution” talk to Edward Russell-Walling.

Competition among South Korea’s financial institutions is intensifying, and consolidations are still on the cards. Local giants such as Shinhan Bank are looking to neighbouring markets for opportunities. Karina Robinson reports.