Bank of America Merrill Lynch has had a rough year.Its CEO is being forced to retire, it is under intense regulatory scrutiny and senior investment bankers have left in droves. Yet it is holding up well in the league tables, and deal flow is looking pretty strong. Is Bank of America beating the odds and making a success of the acquisition?Geraldine Lambe reports
China's ambitions for an international financial centre in Shanghai are now clear. It has staggering market growth and a supportive policy environment, but there are still significant barriers to overcome. If China can realise its ambitions, will it be Shanghai that wins the prize? Writer Geraldine Lambe
Standing strong: China has continued to grow as a financial centre despite the global economic turbulenceThe growth of the Asian banking sector continued in 2008, with China building on its dominance in the region, dwarfing India's more modest growth path, while South Korean banks' share declined. Writer Geraldine Lambe
Turkish banks, cushioned by regulations implemented in the wake of the country's financial crisis of 2001, have been largely sheltered from the recent global crisis and the majority of those listed in The Banker's 2009 rankings posted double-digit profit on capital. Writer Geraldine Lambe
In the wake of the crisis almost everything to do with banks is being questioned - regulation, business models, corporate governance and ownership. Some fear that once burned, shareholders will be twice shy and may avoid bank stocks and bank debt altogether. State ownership is deemed a temporary measure but have private investors fallen out of love with banks? Writer Geraldine Lambe
Banks are at the heart of the carbon business, originating and funding emission reduction projects, trading allowances and offsets, and creating structured products. But just as many projects become more capital intensive, will financial meltdown and recession put the brakes on the business? Writer Geraldine Lambe.