Massive capital flows into Asia led many Asian countries to introduce capital controls and other mechanisms in a bid to stem flows and limit rising currency valuations. However, rising inflation and talk of interest rate rises have raised fears about slowing growth, leading to money flowing the other way.
Last year, customer volumes overtook interbank volumes in the foreign exchange market for the first time. Electronic and high-frequency trading help to account for the change, as does the rise of retail participants – but regulatory change is also helping to cement this trend.
The battle over the valuation of the Chinese renminbi has often been characterised by vitriolic debate and has seen a titanic clash between Washington and Beijing about the right level for the currency and the speed of appreciation. But efforts to internationalise the renminbi are already taking effect.
Regulation will remain at the forefront of transaction bankers' minds in the coming year, while the SEPA harmonisation in Europe will bring additional challenges. However, there is plenty of optimism about, particularly in emerging markets, a survey of senior professionals finds.
The past few years have been as unpredictable as they have been torrid within the banking world. Those who have survived the crisis in good health - the heads of the banks that were winners in our Bank of the Year Awards - tell The Banker of their plans and expectations for 2011. Edited by Anindita Ghosh
Paul Camp, managing director and global head of cash management, financial institutions at Deutsche Bank Global Transaction Banking, discusses how the cash management industry is coping in the aftermath of the global financial crisis, and the trends he expects to see develop in the future. Writer John Beck
Banks are reticent to discuss the consequences of the US's new Volcker Rule, restricting proprietary trading. While some analysts predict dire results for market liquidity, others suggest that bank leaders privately welcome the opportunity to pull out of risky prop-trading activities. Writer Silvia Pavoni
The third quarter of 2010 was a dismal time for banks' trading businesses. Virtually all of them saw precipitous falls from the third quarter of 2009. While most believed this year would not be as good as the last, does this slump suggest a more long-term decline for one of investment banks' stellar business lines? Writer Joanne Hart