One thing Jim Quigley is not short of is confidence. The president of Latin America at Bank of America Merrill Lynch believes that the newly merged firm is well placed to win business as capital markets and investment banking activity begin to pick up.

Barclays was the bank that many expected to fail. Recapitalized, with its earnings power enhanced, safe from the clutches of the UK taxpayer, it may emerge as one of the big winners from the crisis. The bank’s leaders expect to build dominant positions in both retail and investment banking. What could still throw Varley, Diamond & Co off course?

Local governments under pressure to service judicial payments debt; Lawyers concerned about possible technical default

As banks cut back, leading prop trading boutiques grow; Can banking and prop trading co-exist?

Larry Fink wants BlackRock to be one of the key names in finance for the future. Consolidation of investment managers – possibly including BGI – may achieve that goal. But his firm’s influence on the present is already great, as adviser of choice to banks and governments alike on problem assets totalling $7 trillion. Peter Lee reports.