Both local and international players are trying to break into a growing onshore private banking market in the Middle East. In the second part of Euromoney’s roundtable on this market, participants discuss how they are managing to attract and retain relationship managers, how they intend to grow their businesses, and how best to advise clients on risk.

The Spanish bank deal was priced to go; Government pressure might have helped

Sovereign debt crisis increases client demand for research; Pending capital requirements push banks to advice-based model

Goldman’s bottom-of-the-class second-quarter trading performance has sparked renewed speculation about the succession to chief executive Lloyd Blankfein.

Q2 numbers put €10 billion target in jeopardy; Jain and Fitschen to take over from Ackermann.

Mark Johnson looks at an updated version of a classic work on the origins and development of Europe’s single currency.

Issues $500 billion international bond; Raises $1.6 billion for private equity fund

Banks find it difficult to square governments’ pressure to increase lending with governments’ parallel pressure to reduce bank risk .

A slowdown in emerging markets growth is the last thing a troubled global economy needs.

US regulators face a struggle in enlisting China to stamp out stock frauds.

Recoveries in Europe for distressed junior lenders compare well with the US despite the lack of a single bankruptcy framework.

The initial relief rally that greeted the second bailout plan for Greece last month was predictably short-lived.

If there is scant market reaction to a downgrade of the US sovereign, rating agencies will lose face.

The collapse in fixed-income revenues at Goldman Sachs in the second quarter might accelerate the war of succession between rivals for the role of next chief executive.

One of Argentina’s leading economic consultancies says it will defy a government crackdown on agencies that disseminate independent inflation figures.

JPM expands into Europe as other firms add heads; Optimism for hedge fund industry growth

Footballers. Models. Cultural icons. The Portuguese player Cristiano Ronaldo and the Brazilian Ricardo Kaká have been called many things throughout their career, but thanks to the newly listed Bankia, they each have a brand-new title: bank collateral. The Spanish bank Caja Madrid helped to finance Real Madrid’s purchase of Ronaldo from Manchester United and Kaká’s transfer from AC Madrid with a loan of €160 million in 2009. Caja Madrid has since merged with six other Spanish savings banks to form Bankia, which now owns Real’s debt.

Russian lender takes advantages of banking woes; Foreign banks under pressure in Russia