Despite some volatility the currency’s internationalisation continues apace, with trading links, a free-trade zone and the introduction of a payments superhighway all facilitating its usage. 

Frustrated with the limitations of traditional credit scoring methods, innovative start-ups are finding new ways to analyse borrower risks using social media and other online data.

Banks across the Arab world are prospering, according to The Banker’s Top 100 Arab banks ranking, thanks to the health of the financial sector despite ongoing political and security risks in some areas.

A year into Karnit Flug’s tenure as governor of the Bank of Israel, James King looks at the impact of her stewardship on the broader economy.

A difficult macroeconomic environment has hardly dented the performance of Israeli banks, which are pushing ahead with new plans for longer term growth by honing their strategies in sectors including hi-tech and energy.

With many north African countries in political and economic turmoil, Morocco’s stability and strong growth are proving attractive for Gulf-based investors looking to access the north African market.

China's trade relationship with the rest of the world is changing, as it sheds its 'factory' status and becomes a vital trade partner to every global region. James King assesses this journey.

The increasingly international outlook of the Islamic finance market place is providing new growth opportunities for Islamic banks and, according to Standard Chartered Saadiq, Malaysia's chief executive, Wasim Akhtar Saifi, is also offering much-needed solutions to the industry's longer term liquidity management problems. 

Qatar Investment Fund is overcoming the traditional hurdles to investment in Qatar, allowing investors to tap the country’s stellar growth, its chairman tells James King.