Eurosceptics, many of them in the UK, have so far rejoiced at the crisis in the eurozone, believing it has proven that they were right all along – a monetary union without fiscal union makes economic nonsense. The crisis, say the eurosceptics, exposes the euro as a largely political project.

Every analyst has their own spin on what the impact of Basel III might be, and Bernard de Longevialle’s financial institutions team at credit ratings agency Standard & Poor’s has now added its own 16-page report. One of the most striking observations is the effect that tougher risk-weights on banks’ assets could have on certain banks that had recorded relatively healthy capital adequacy ratios under Basel II.

The Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC), a body of regulators chaired by the US Treasury secretary, issued a series of recommendations in January on how to implement the Volcker Rule and its ban on proprietary trading.

The surge in Middle Eastern merger and acquisitions (M&A) is evidence of a shift from the oil and gas sector to the development of more complex and interesting industries. Is it set to put the region on a new path?

The Banker identifies those that have been integral to their countries' recoveries from various financial crises.

The perversities of regulation are fast becoming all too clear. Trade is the engine of global economic growth and the means by which indebted Europe and the US can haul themselves out of their malaise.

Anyone that hoped the financial crisis would be the catalyst for substantial change to Germany's three-pillar banking system may be disappointed. The rigid structure that divides the German banking sector into privately owned banks, publicly owned banks and co-operatives seems even now resistant to change.