Emerging Europe

Russia’s leading investment bank has seen its fortunes fluctuate over the past two years. Alexei Yakovitsky, VTB Capital’s chief executive, talks to Euromoney about Brexit, Africa and state ownership and explains why sanctions have proved more of a blessing than a curse.

Although the CIS is learning to adjust to low oil prices, the recovery is slow, the political risks complex, and with fiscal deficits widening living standards are failing to keep pace with other emerging markets.

The country is gradually improving its position in the ECR rankings – unlike several of its neighbours.

Matrix Capital to offer fund management, advisory; ‘perfect fit’ for global banks in era of Russia pullback.

Banking sector concentration, rather than proliferation, is the lesser of two evils.

Collapsing investment banking volumes have prompted global players to pull back from emerging Europe over the past two years. But Citi’s Jim Cowles, CEO for EMEA, has alternative sources of revenue to fall back on.

Banks’ sovereign coverage models in the spotlight; consistency is key, say market leaders.

The world’s richest nations need to lead the way on transparency. The UK should be embarrassed that it hasn’t, especially when it comes to money laundering in eastern Europe.

The decision to reassign Hungary’s investment grade will bring delight to Budapest, bringing the sovereign borrower correctly in line with Romania, but S&P needs to take note – Euromoney’s country risk survey is shining the spotlight on another country that is closely aligned.

Continuing engagement with the IMF is a positive sign, but it’s a long way back as the economic, political and security risks are still sky-high.

Its banking sector has earned an unenviable reputation thanks to the growth of financial institutions serving non-residents – principally from Russia. Regulators are now, finally, cleaning house. But the challenge for local banks remains: how to make money in a small, over-banked domestic market.

From Moldova to Mongolia, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has earned a reputation for going where other institutions fear to tread. Now it is putting its balance sheet to work plugging holes in banks’ capital bases.

Poland’s declining risk score trend in Euromoney’s survey signals the rating agency is lagging experts in the field.

US investors shun Russian privatization; global banks not required, say locals.

Tomas Spurny has headed some of the biggest banks in emerging Europe. Now he has the task of transforming Czech consumer lender Moneta Money Bank into a digital leader. He talks about technology, regional risk and the joys of returning to Prague.

Country-by-country assessments of Europe’s banking sector show that risks are at new highs, as the financial services industry struggles to cope with the aftershocks of the 2007/08 crisis. Resolving the Italian bank crisis is key to how it will all pan out.

Hakan Binbasgil has built Akbank into one of the most impressive financial institutions in the emerging markets. Can he keep the bank on track?

Euromoney has decided on the best banks in Emerging Europe. But let’s also consider some editorial awards – for the good and the bad – that the strict criteria of the Awards for Excellence did not allow for

The borrower’s prospects are still failing to improve, despite decent GDP growth, as political and structural concerns preoccupy the risk experts.

The rouble has enjoyed a strong start to the year, shrugging off underlying weakness in the Russian economy, leading the CBR to hike rates by 50 basis points on Friday.

The old pan-regional banking model is under threat but that presents opportunities for new champions to emerge.

Four months after a new coalition was formed, the economy is brightening, but Croatia remains mired in a political crisis weighing on its country risk rating.

‘Cumbersome’ lender may struggle for demand; Apollo targets 25% market share for NKBM.

Naci Agbal spent most of his career as a technocrat at the Turkish ministry of finance. Euromoney spoke to Agbal about his new role as finance minister when the world around him seems to be falling apart.

In the great debate on banking union, the smaller markets of emerging Europe are often overlooked. Yet, with banking sectors dominated by eurozone groups, they are uniquely vulnerable to changing regulatory regimes.

IPO follows strategic sale of Polish unit; strong investor demand for CEE, say bankers.

Assailed by conflict and politics, Alexander Dubilet admits that the task of running Ukraine’s biggest bank is complicated. But he insists that PrivatBank can cope with the loss of large parts of its network and dismisses rumours about secret loans and the need for state support.

They’re cheering in Bratislava as changing country-risk perceptions make Slovakia the safer option.

Bank snaps up local advisory firm; M&A activity ‘on upward trajectory’, says CEO.

In the six years since Fidesz came to power, its policymakers seem to have been reluctant to miss an opportunity to convince the world of their lack of commitment to transparency and good governance.