One the face of it, it's an easy win: governments spend money on infrastructure projects and the spluttering economies of the developed and developing world would be transformed. However, as Brian Caplen explains, the solution is more to do with political commitment than available funding.
Banks within the EU may have largely passed the stress tests to show how they would survive adverse economic growth in the years to 2018, but the problem with adverse scenarios, writes Brian Caplen, is that the form they take is notoriously difficult to predict or replicate.
Asia-Pacific, North America and western Europe continue to dominate the Top 1000 in terms of Tier 1 capital share and the number of banks. Elsewhere, the Middle East shows some growth, but Africa and central and eastern Europe are going backwards.
Danish mortgage bank Nykredit Realkredit's decision to issue senior subordinated Tier 3 notes that will sit between equity and subordinated debt and senior unsecured debt in the liquidation hierarchy will have a widespread impact across Europe, says Brian Caplen.
Under new chief executive Philippe Brassac, Crédit Agricole has simplified its oft-criticised group structure and devised a new plan, aimed at strengthening core business lines, improving operational efficiency and transforming its digital offering. Brian Caplen reports on how these changes will affect the bank.
Venezuela faces severe economic, social and political instability as the policies of late president Hugo Chávez continue to unravel, leading to fears that the country could be set for a default that is hard-hitting even by Latin American standards, as Brian Caplen writes.