Is Mathis Cabiallavetta the Othello of the financial markets - a man who loved "not wisely but too well"? Dirk Schütz, author of the first history of the SBC/UBS merger, (Der Fall der UBS published by Bilanz), certainly blames Cab's loyalty for the quality of people he collected round him as he rose to the top of UBS.

The most important event in modern financial history is upon us. In the afternoon of December 31 the official euro conversion rate will be announced. At that moment, 11 national currencies will effectively cease to exist and core Europe will have a single currency.

"Just ask Sunil about his record collection," was the advice of a Hong Kong-based Citibanker, "you won't be disappointed." Sure enough, this question draws an enthusiastic response. "I think I have more CDs than certain record shops in Kuala Lumpur," laughs Sunil Sreenivasan.