As Ireland reels from its banking woes, a fierce debate is under way as to whether the government's 'bad bank' solution will be enough to open a route to recovery or whether widespread bank nationalisation is a more realistic option. Writer Philippa Maister
Western Europe
Latest articles from Western Europe
UBS returns to its roots
June 4, 2009Investment banking losses and US tax evasion charges sent clients of the leading wealth manager scurrying for the exits. But the crisis has renewed UBS's determination to succeed in private banking. Writer Philip Alexander
World
/ Western Europe
/ UK
Energy sapping
June 4, 2009Merrill Lynch's orchestration of the EDF purchase of British Energy was one of the most complex and drawn-out deals of its kind ever undertaken. Writer Edward Russell-Walling
To the Balkans and Beyond
May 5, 2009Over the past decade, Greece's leading banks have expanded into south-east Europe. To remain competitive, however, they will now need to weather the financial storm and continue to focus on increasing their presence in the Balkans and the rest of eastern Europe. Writer Kerin Hope
Greece gears up for tough times
May 5, 2009Greece's service-based economy has been less exposed to the global downturn than elsewhere in Europe, but a positive outlook for 2009 will largely depend on how the tourist industry performs and whether lines of credit will remain available to smaller businesses. Writer Kerin Hope
World
/ Western Europe
/ Italy
Preparing for the rebound: Looking East
May 5, 2009Few markets in central and eastern Europe have escaped investor fears over excessive corporate debt. Equity offerings are on hold and refinancing conditions have rarely been tougher, but there are opportunities for banks that stay in the game, writes Philip Alexander.
World
/ Western Europe
/ Italy
Intesa Sanpaolo invests in Eastern promise: Looking East
May 5, 2009Intesa Sanpaolo rose to prominence as Italy's largest bank after a series of domestic mergers and takeovers, and has improved its status further with a raft of selective acquisitions in central and eastern Europe, writes David Lane in Rome.
World
/ Western Europe
/ Italy
Keeping faith with convergence: Looking East
May 5, 2009The share prices of leading Italian banks were buffeted in early 2009 as investors anticipated damage to asset quality from their high exposure to emerging Europe. But senior managers say the region is still at the heart of their strategy, writes Philip Alexander.
Outside influence
May 5, 2009The state-owned Banque et Caisse d'Epargne de l'Etat may be performing well, but Luxembourg operations of Fortis and Dexia have encountered problems as the knock-on effect of the recession in powerful neighbouring economies takes its toll on one of the world's smallest countries. Writer Nick Kochan
Weathering the storm
May 5, 2009Although not caught at the epicentre of the financial hurricane, the Portuguese economy's hopes of an upturn after four years of slow growth have been hit by the global recession. However, the country's trade links with Africa and Latin America and its lack of subprime exposure are giving some cause for optimism. Writer Peter Wise