Return to positive growth in 2011; Credit risk spreads down, equity investor interest up

The Irish government must push through an austerity budget and stabilize its finances before returning to the capital markets next June. It hopes to resolve its banking system and property sector problems through early recognition of losses. If this bold experiment fails, the country might yet be a test case for euro sovereign debt rescheduling.

The confirmation of disappointing third-quarter sales and trading revenues for most banks set the stage for a crucial fourth-quarter push by investment bankers – the push to maximize their own bonus payments.

Pan-African group restructures operations; Investment unit to trade 17 African currencies

CEO Khosla sees China as key; Banks outsource research, advisory to cut costs

Senior RMBS bondholders will pay the price from US mortgage chaos.

The EU’s plans to tighten measures to prevent eurozone instability and discipline transgressors are admirable in theory. But implementation will be a tough task and is not in any case achievable until 2013.

Introducing Gold ATMs, Chanel bullion replica clutches, and reopening JPM gold vaults.

There has always been something rather tacky about the financial market’s habit of naming bond markets for borrowers issuing in a foreign country by picking the most stereotypical associations. Thus bonds marketed by foreign issuers in Japanese yen are samurais, Australian dollar bonds are kangaroos and so on. Euromoney reckons that the names evoke a less than progressive attitude towards the internationalization of markets.

As Iraqi oil production is ramped up, a big bank run and Al Qaeda attacks are undermining basic faith in the financial system. Nevertheless, especially in safer areas such as Iraqi Kurdistan, there are signs of how the country’s potential could be exploited.

New shareholder comes on board; Sufficient funds to hand to repay Eurobond

Latin America’s debt market is setting new benchmarks, demonstrating the region’s rapid progress. But are things going too fast? Sudip Roy reports.

Spate of interventions boosts volumes; Emerging countries seek to stem capital inflows

There was no chance that the UK’s Financial Services Authority would emerge from the recent financial crisis without a fundamental overhaul of its culture, objectives and procedures. But did it need to be scrapped altogether? And if it did, will the new model work any better? Dawn Cowie reports.

Investment banker turned economics professor Michael Pettis has insights and forthright views on China. He has two main targets: the country’s cheerleaders and the one-note naysayers, arguing neither side understands the subtleties and complexities of the China debate.

The SEC and Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s findings on what caused the May 6 flash crash are not convincing everyone involved in trading.

Acute mid-market refinancing need; New funds target sector

To hire seven FIG bankers by December; Adding 50 in Asia over next nine months

In the battle to rebuild war-torn Afghanistan, Kabulbank inserted itself as a key player, building the country’s largest deposit base and becoming the payment agent for many government enterprises. But a run on the bank in August led to the ousting of colourful poker-playing bank owner Sherkhan Farnood. What does this mean for the country’s banking sector? Eric Ellis reports.

Second rise in as many weeks; Analysts sceptical of its effectiveness

Senior Deutsche Bank and JPMorgan hires; Barclays launches Saudi arm

Turkey’s IPO market has disappointed this year. The wrong deals were sold at the wrong prices, leaving a bad taste in investors’ mouths. Can the lessons be learnt to ensure next years’ big pipeline gets completed? Nick Lord reports.

Cairn boss breaches protocol; Vedanta struggling to raise cash

Hungary’s foreign banks are adamant that they’re in for the long haul. But with a deeply hostile government, a hefty tax bill in the offing and huge mortgage portfolios sinking ever further underwater, is their position sustainable? Lucy Fitzgeorge-Parker reports.