The hot topic at this year's annual meeting of central bankers in Jackson Hole, US, will be interest rates – with developed economies still cautious about raising their rates and emerging economies becoming increasingly frustrated by this inaction.

Far from tackling the problems that led to the global financial meltdown, new regulation is steering the banking sector towards yet another crisis.

CaixaBank has emerged from the Spanish banking crisis with a larger share of the domestic market and the biggest branch network in the country. By focusing exclusively on its home market, and continuing its trend of innovation, the lender hopes to build on this position.

The IFRS's latest attempt to simplify international accounting rules scores some small victories, but it also introduces a number of significant new problems into the accounting equation.

By establishing the New Development Bank, the BRICS economies of Brazil, Russia, China, India and South Africa have made their biggest push yet towards redressing the economic world order.

Brazil has made huge economic gains in the past few decades, but this growth is now threatening to grind to a halt. Further progress rests on the country's ability to reform and tackle key issues, such as its infrastructure deficit and poor public services.

The subject of Scottish independence has received global attention, with leaders from the US and Europe weighing in on the discussion. But, with very few clear facts, opinion seems to be the main driver of the debate.

The growth story of Chinese banks continues unabated, with the country's big four strengthening their positions and its second-tier lenders also performing strongly.

The global percentage of Tier 1 capital held by Asian banks has grown yet again in the 2014 Top 1000 World Banks ranking, largely at western Europe's expense.