When iron ore pricing moved in March from its historic benchmark pricing structure to the spot market, users warned that prices could double. As steel and auto companies accused mining companies of unfair pricing practices, banks moved to develop new hedging products to help them manage price volatility. Writer Suzanne Miller
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, under the tutelage of chairwoman Sheila Bair, has been spearheading a banking clean-up on a massive scale. And while the sector faces much uncertainty, one thing is sure: the US banking landscape is set to change for good. Writer Suzanne Miller
Following the recession, investors have steered clear of US transport projects, while the federal and local governments have shied away from increasing toll revenues, despite the country's lack of investment in its roads and bridges. But now the US infrastructure market is slowly embracing a European solution: private capital. Writer Suzanne Miller
With a few deals signalling the resuscitation of the global asset-backed securities market, bankers say it is gingerly getting back on its feet. But it faces a barrage of political, regulatory and accounting constraints that will make any recovery slow and painful. Writer Suzanne Miller
In creating the modern Citigroup, Sandy Weill took the banking industry into a new era. Now beset by troubles on all fronts - Enron and WorldCom fallout, consumer finance allegations and a controversial new management structure - some analysts fear 'the king of capital' may be losing his magic touch.
Argentina's spectacular sovereign debt default may, ironically, change international rules on dealing with such collapses while coming too late for the country itself. Suzanne Miller reports from New York on why the IMF may finally have run out of patience with its old friend.