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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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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"

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

Aeon Credit Service, a credit card issuer, became the first Japanese company to tap into the growing market for Shariah-compliant debt when it began issuing under an agreement signed with joint lead arrangers, managers and bookrunners Aseambankers Malaysia, Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ and CIMB Investment Bank.

Posit Now is the latest newcomer to European equities trading venues.

Barclays has announced the appointment of Matt Barrett as head of distressed debt and special situations investing. He is joined by two more new hires to work as managing directors in the same department, as Barclays looks to substantially increase its power in this market.

Nick Munns, David Frist and Chris Morrison are all believed to have left JPMorgan’s foreign exchange proprietary trading desk in London.

Foreign investors are starting to return to Argentina’s capital markets just five years after the country’s severe economic crisis. However, their confidence has been shaken following the government’s apparent manipulation of the inflation rate for January.

Rated sovereigns in the Middle East and Africa are expected to show net borrowing decreases in 2007 because of large debt repayments, according to Standard & Poor’s.

Cairn Capital is on the road marketing the first managed constant proportion debt obligation. The deal, which is structured by JPMorgan, seeks to offer investors an improvement on static CPDOs and is proof of the rapid evolution in the product.

On February 1 the leading lights in the global wealth management industry gathered at the historic Christchurch in London’s Spitalfields district to celebrate the winners in Euromoney’s fourth annual private banking survey.

Market expectations of interest rate stability fly in the face of growing signs of inflationary pressure and the likelihood of a move by the Federal Reserve.

The region’s rapid growth is changing the investment banking landscape beyond recognition as the fee pool grows. How are the major international firms tackling the opportunities, and which new products are creating the biggest buzz?