Four Chinese banks are now in the global top 10, with Industrial Commercial Bank of China making significant headway by moving into third position, pushing HSBC out of the top three.

As the Chinese authorities lift restrictions and open up the renminbi market stage by stage, the significance of what is unfolding has not gone unrecognised in Europe, and, according to a recent survey by The Banker, it is not only those already doing business with the country that are interested in the renminbi's development. As London takes steps to establish itself as an offshore renminbi financial centre, many are anxious to take advantage of the opportunities soon to be available.

The Banker's Top 1000 new entrants list is dominated by Asia-Pacific-based institutions, with the largest new entrant coming from South Korea and 13 Chinese institutions entering the rankings.

With oil prices rising ever higher, interest in ethanol as a green fuel is growing, with the world's largest economies – Brazil, China and the US – already involved in production.

While the Asia-Pacific region's growth story over the past few decades has been powered by Japan and then China, at least as far as banking is concerned, when these two countries are removed from The Banker's Asia-Pacific rankings, it is Australia's banks that come to the fore.