The signs for optimism in Argentina, Brazil and Mexico are under threat from a cooling of the Chinese economy and a probable rise in US interest rates.

The big issue in China is not inward investment but outward investment. Even as the queue for QFII (Qualified Foreign Institutional Investors) status lengthens (allowing access to China’s renminbi denominated A shares market, the bulk of stock market capitalisation), the talk is of when China’s own insurance and social security funds may be allowed to venture overseas freely and openly.

Louise do Rosario says the pace of change has speeded up dramatically since China signed up for WTO status.
For many years, foreign banks in China grew at a snail’s pace, while the local economy was growing an impressive 8%-9% a year. Foreign banks made a negligible impact on the local banking scene, as they were confined by law to a few cities and to serve mainly foreigners.
This situation has changed, thanks to the financial liberalisation China has made in accordance with its commitments to the World Trade Organization (WTO).

In recent years, foreign banks have made many alliances with and investments in their Chinese counterparts.

In an increasingly interconnected world, large financial services institutions (FSIs) are already sourcing their IT and business process services from a variety of international locations. As outsourcing services have evolved from filling tactical gaps to providing strategic cost and quality advantages as well as innovative features, FSIs are tapping supplementary alternatives to India as a location for offshore outsourcing.

South Korea’s political turmoil resulting from the impeachment of its president may be limiting the country’s nascent economic recovery, says Yang Sung-jin.

Park Sang-soo reviews the banking sector in South Korea, as financial institutions work to reduce the mountain of bad debt.

South Korea has a dilemma. On the one hand historical factors make it wary of foreign intrusion, yet it aspires to be a regional hub. Kim Ji-hyun reports.

Given a volatile stock market, government stimuli and low interest rates, Korea is awash with mountains of seemingly uninvestible cash. Park Sang-soo explains.