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Citi has carved out a non-mortgage-related ABS business line called global securitized products.

Last year’s rush by UK pension funds to de-risk, either via interest rate and inflation swap overlays or by switches out of equities and into fixed income, was headline-grabbing. Yield curves remain inverted but the headlines have gone. Roger James finds out why.

"I’m nervous but I don’t know what I’m nervous about"

Recent visitors to BNP Paribas’ London headquarters have been greeted by placards in the entrance hall that urge staff to "Be smart".

Merrill Lynch has appointed John Crompton as managing director and head of equity capital markets for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA).

Dan Zelikow has joined the Inter-American Development Bank as its new chief operating officer.

Vietnam’s reforming bank market is learning the lessons of its northern cousin. Foreign banks are lining up to pour money into local banks, hungry for a position in what will be a lucrative, if crowded, domestic market.

Sberbank, Russia’s largest savings bank, launched an $8.8 billion equity issue last month.

Peter Epstein has worked out what the hedge fund manager has missing in his/her life.

Your average banker’s insatiable thirst for blood is one of the main reasons for the spectacular growth of financial markets in recent years. Now complementary industries are cashing in on this wolf-like appetite for the flesh of the departed.

"Brazil and Mexico explain Latin America. The rest is beautiful places for a holiday"

According to lawyers, the Singapore Stock Exchange has issued an RFP for an adviser to rethink its efforts to attract hedge fund listings.

In the our last issue in the Islamic finance awards section we incorrectly stated that Dubai International Bank had won the best Islamic bank in the Middle East award. It was in fact Dubai Islamic Bank.

Sarah: "I would just like to check some figures with you, if that’s ok?"

Allan: "Figures, I bet you’ve got a lovely figure"

Colombia’s president, Alvaro Uribe, has appointed Oscar Ivan Zuluaga as his new finance minister following the resignation of Alberto Carrasquilla.

"The company could run very well without me" -Jim Simons, founder of Renaissance Technologies

Citi has unveiled the management structure of its recently created fixed income, currencies and commodities (FICC) business unit.

The final outcome of a much-rumoured rebranding exercise was not much of a surprise.

Brad Craighead is returning to JPMorgan to run asset-backed origination in Europe. He will report to Oldrich Masek, head of the European securitization product group at the US bank, and will be responsible for the bank’s relationships with issuers.

Some dealers have already suffered from the widening of spreads on the ABX index. Will the problems spread?

ABN Amro launched the third SME loan securitization under its Smile programme.

In their rush to capitalize on infrastructure privatizations, lenders are pushing their risk criteria to the limit.

Latin America’s best companies, like its capital markets, are beginning to find their bite. Boldness is the buzzword in a stable environment of 5% regional economic growth. For a growing club, foreign markets are the targets for home-grown Latin success stories. Leticia Lozano reports.

As Latin America’s local markets develop strongly, banks are still figuring how best to cover them. Should they buy a target, grow organically or even consider a local tie-up? And which markets should they be present in? Sudip Roy reports.

The shift in the balance of power in Citi’s debt group duplicates a trend seen in some other US investment banks.

The growth in volumes may be higher across the region, but a NYSE listing still has big advantages for the right companies at the right stage of their development. Felix Salmon reports.

M&A, privatizations and the emergence of a new group of investors have helped boost interest and liquidity in the Portuguese equity market. This is tempting some companies to raise capital on the stock exchange. However, some of the biggest potential deals from the government could go elsewhere. Peter Koh reports from Lisbon.

With acquisition opportunities elsewhere in Latin America now few and far ­between, global banks are increasingly turning their attention to the economically vibrant and rapidly integrating central American region. Leticia Lozano reports.

Turkey’s open-door approach to foreign investment is paying dividends, with international banks helping to boost balance sheets and widen the range of products and services in the sector. Guy Norton reports from Istanbul.