National Australia Bank has revamped its UK holdings, Clydesdale and Yorkshire banks, as local financial centres with an in-house manager style reminiscent of the 1970s. Stephen Timewell reports.

Heng Swee Keat, managing director of the Monetary Authority of Singapore, the country’s central bank, tells Karina Robinson why a ‘friendly’ environment is vital.

With a specialist at the helm of the finance ministry, the government is promoting fiscal reform and tightening the efficacy of the national treasury. Dennis Engbarth reports from Taipei.

On June 13, The Banker launched the Chinese version of its Top 100 Chinese Banks listing in a glittering ceremony at Beijing’s prestigious Chinese Political Consultative Conference Hall.

S&P seeks more accurate comparison of capital adequacy while BCG advises foreigners on starting out in China.

Growth powered by political motives is unsustainable and will lead to instability, warns Arthur Waldron.

Banking in India and China has a long way to go to match global comparisons, but both countries will get there in the end.

Having spent the past few years building up their retail loans, India’s banks are now considering ways to mitigate the effects of a downturn in the property or equity markets. Kala Rao reports.

Dr YV Reddy has inspired widespread praise for his dextrous handling of India’s central bank. He speaks to Karina Robinson.

Japan’s banks continue to make steady progress back to health, and many would argue that the big banks are already there. With an aggregate pre-tax profit of $51.3bn, the Japanese banking sector has surpassed last year’s $32.4bn, and left 2003’s pre-tax losses of $39.3bn a distant memory.