The intervention of the Chinese government when the country's stock market lost more than one-third of its value in mid-June did not surprise many people, but the timing and manner of the action has disappointed some.

The International Monetary Fund has gradually found its voice in the years since its participation in the Greek bail-out of 2010. Now it must go further.

China's rise to the economic ascent will not be without its hiccups, as the country must negotiate the transition from an investment- to a consumption-driven economic model and put its local government expenditures into check.

There has been an important departure in The Banker's methodology for the Top 1000 World Banks ranking this year, owing to the advent of Basel III and its adoption by nearly two-thirds of the banks in the ranking. 

The Eurasian Economic Union is an ambitious project at a difficult time.

Countries in central and eastern Europe are being split in terms of their economic outlook, with Russia in deep recession but other countries benefiting from the low oil price. 

Regional payments systems will help bolster Africa's developing financial infrastructure.