After the giddy levels of flotation activity seen in Brazil in recent years, even usually optimistic bankers are not anticipating much new IPO business before the second half of 2009, at the earliest. Writer John Rumsey.

In response to rising inflation, Guatemala has adjusted its interest rates eight times in the past two years, and is working carefully to co-ordinate its monetary and fiscal policies, explains the president of Banco de Guatemala. Writer John Rumsey.

The Guatemalan economy has big potential, particularly in fuel and food production. The country’s minister of finance talks about his fiscal reform programme and intent to create a sustainable tax base. Writer John Rumsey.

Just as the banking industry’s big names turned their attention towards Guatemala, the credit crisis struck, plunging the country’s modernisation plans into jeopardy. Writer John Rumsey.

Panama has been capitalising on its prime location between the Americas to attract foreign companies, and has been ramping up its infrastructure to support growth. So how will it be affected by the global slowdown? Writer John Rumsey.

Long dependent on exports and its larger neighbours, Uruguay is using tax breaks, duty-free zones and investor-friendly legislation to make itself an attractive prospect for foreign money. By John Rumsey.

The private sector is showing its confidence in Uruguay’s revitalised banking system by investing more, and a robust deposit base is allowing banks to offer their corporate clients longer tenors. By John Rumsey.

After the merger of Brazil’s stock and derivatives exchanges, the country’s range of derivatives is fast expanding. John Rumsey reports.

Latin America is a fertile region for renewable energy development but government support is sadly lacking. John Rumsey reports from Rio de Janeiro on how banks are getting involved in project investment.

As foreign players enter the market, John Rumsey in San José asks how much competition is healthy for Costa Rica’s banks?