After a troubled start to the year when defaults in the domestic bond markets occurred almost daily, there are tentative signs of a recovery in investor sentiment towards fixed-income offerings from Russian issuers. In late August conglomerate Sistema provided much-needed cheer for market participants when it successfully launched a R20 billion ($620 million) bond – the largest corporate issue to date this year, trumping an earlier R15 billion transaction from energy company Gazprom.

Banks will have to operate under a stricter capital regime. While they are feverishly raising more and higher-quality capital in the financial markets, proposals put forward by regulators are not to everyone’s taste, not least the potential treatment of hybrid securities. Sudip Roy reports.

Boost in markets reignites demand; Private equity players return

One year after its collapse, Lehman Brothers has inspired its first film.

"Where I live its not very commutable so there aren’t many bankers around. I go to dinner and I’m instantly disparaged. You know: Banker, American, paedophile..."

High oil price, cheap valuations to spur rally; Growth forecast at 4% in 2010

El Salvador is planning to come to market with an international long-term issue of up to $800 million.

Two institutions are making a push in the European government bond/rates sector, a development that recognizes the high profits made in rates trading during the first part of this year.

Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds are still in fashion but the look has changed.

The buoyant stock market is built on credit stimuli that cannot continue until there is a recovery in the real economy – and that is still way over the horizon.

Ratings agencies may not use the First Amendment to protect themselves but they still won’t be successfully sued over every structured credit opinion.

In July this column read the last rites over some unexpected victims of the crisis. Happily, some deaths have been greatly exaggerated while other parts of the economy and markets are due for a renaissance.

Global wealth managers lose out to local players; Client expectations set to change playing field

Limited UBS agreement to disclose account details to IRS should not fatally damage the sector.

"How the hell do you think I’m doing after losing $1 billion?"

Krawcheck faces tough task at BofA Merrill Lynch; Merrill wealth staffers unwelcoming of outsiders

Agreement of new capital rules can’t come soon enough but speedy imposition of them might be dangerous for banks and the global economy.

The collapse of the Gulf states’ investment boom suggests that they should look to the wider region as a target for their surpluses.

Bid-ask spread spreads are narrowing in rates; ECM fees and volumes are under pressure

Spanish bank is the first foreign buyer from the FDIC; Rising failures are testing the FDIC’s resources

The boom in the bond markets has quickly brought back some unwanted old habits.

New government must be careful not to crank up the JGB machine too far.

China signals its intent for the yuan to become a reserve currency soon.

Balance sheet strengthened to create billions in economic capital; IPO of 15% of Brazilian operation weighed

Government policymakers and regulators around the world are striving to agree new rules to make the financial system safer. Euromoney has a few recommendations.