US stock indices are at record highs but the exuberance is not irrational, say bullish analysts, because the level of valuations is justified by strong earnings and a market with some of the world’s most profitable companies.

With a shrinking economy and a deteriorating balance of payments, Ukraine is in a downward spiral that risks plunging the country into crisis if the current political unrest is not defused with haste.

A Damascene conversion in some regulatory circles in favour of securitization, as a means of boosting the real economy, has heartened market participants, but regulatory hurdles remain, including the liquidity coverage ratio. While continental European issuance has demonstrated growth, there are grounds for cautious optimism that 2014 will see the securitization market, from CLOs to RMBS, spring back to life.

China’s once-in-a-generation economic reforms have largely pleased some notable bears, as new policies reflect Beijing’s recognition that a growth-at-all-costs investment-led model is bust, while capital-account opening could help navigate short-term credit challenges.

Regulation, staying on top of cash flows and the importance of agility – our experts from EMEA, Asia Pacific and the US discuss the major issues facing corporate treasurers. By Etienne Bernard, Head of Transaction Services, EMEA, Julian Oldale, Head of ICM International Solutions, Americas, and Manfred Schmoelz, Head of Transaction Services, Asia Pacific.

High-volume European car makers look set to emerge stronger than many thought possible from the lowest sales volumes for 17 years and decades of overcapacity issues. This could release more than EUR15 billion for shareholders, new projects or acquisitions, writes Michael Ward, Head of Diversified Industrials.

Global banking regulators have placed the risk-absorbing capacity of government bonds at the centre of their brave new financial world, ostensibly opening up revenue opportunities for banks in collateral-transformation for OTC purposes.

Author and former trader Nassim Taleb, who shook the financial world with his best-selling book on risk The Black Swan, recently spoke at an RBS Insight dinner for clients in Milan. Here, he shares his thoughts on handling the unpredictable.

With inflation continuing to fall and growth flatlining, pressure is mounting on the ECB as it edges closer to exhausting less contentious policy weapons to combat the threat of deflation.

Typhoon Haiyan is tempering exuberance over the Philippines’ growth story by exposing structural limits on its growth potential – most significantly inadequate infrastructure and governance issues.