As part of its journey back to prosperity after a severe recession, Iceland made a belated return to the international markets with a successful bond issuance. David Wigan reports.
Western Europe
Latest articles from Iceland

Iceland finance minister seeks to continue on road to recovery
January 19, 2015Iceland’s finance minister, Bjarni Benediktsson, talks about economic recovery, plans to stabilise the banking sector and why the country will not be joining the EU any time soon.

Iceland's tale of two banking stories
November 3, 2014Iceland's banking sector has recovered impressively from its 2008 collapse, and the banks formed from the ashes of that period are performing well. However, the clouds of the past still linger, and the winding-up processes of the failed Kaupthing, Glitnir and Landsbanki are still to be resolved.
An Icelandic lesson of recovery for Cyprus
April 29, 2013The problems that have beset Cyprus this year have an all too familiar ring to them, but the post-crisis reaction to its economic problems by Iceland show how a full investigation into the causes of a financial crisis are essential to enable a new system that is fit for purpose to be established.

Iceland's recovery hindered by political and consolidation worries
March 1, 2012Iceland's rebuilding efforts following its economic collapse have borne some fruit, with the IMF predicting 2.5% growth for this year, but the country is still faced with a number of challenges.
Iceland makes capital markets return
August 1, 2011As Iceland comes back from financial collapse with the help of an austerity programme and support from the International Monetary Fund, it is now looking to return to the international capital markets with a $1bn, five-year benchmark transaction.

Icelandic banks still waiting for the thaw
August 1, 2011A successful sovereign bond issue in June 2011 indicated that Iceland is gradually returning to financial normality after the collapse of its banking sector in 2008. But the three large banks that defaulted are still mired in controversy.
Iceland shows challenges of cross-border regulation
August 1, 2011The passporting of financial services across the EU was a much-lauded part of the creation of a single European market. At least until the financial crisis.

Iceland's President says the country's new banks performing well
December 8, 2010Iceland has come through a disastrous banking crisis and its president maintains that the country's new institutions are serving the economy well, despite the ban on them making overseas investments. Writer Spencer Anderson
Jóhanna Sigurdardóttir
October 5, 2009Nowhere was hit as hard by the credit crisis as Iceland, but as the country rebuilds its economy and banking sector, it is determined to learn from this harshest of lessons.