Search results for

Robert Bell and Robert Palache have formed Bell Capital Partners – a boutique advisory firm that will provided specialized financing advice in the real estate sector.

The FX world looks as if it could be there for the taking for the Canadian banks, which either through good judgement or luck appear to have weathered the global credit crunch relatively well. CIBC World Markets also looks as if it wants to capitalize; the bank is rumoured to have lured Mark Sweeting to the new role of head of FICC sales. Sweeting had been twiddling his thumbs at UniCredit in London, which he joined from ABN Amro in June 2007 to focus on US and UK real money sales. In 2008 CIBC hired the heavyweight trio of Harry Culham, Christian Exshaw and Tim Carrington, who gained a solid reputation at Dresdner before an ill-fated stint at Merrill Lynch. Sources say Sweeting will start in April and report to Exshaw.

Eike Batista is intent on bucking the market. He wants to make idle private equity work. Bankers love his energy and mining businesses despite the downturn in global commodities. Can Brazil’s richest man keep delivering? Chloe Hayward reports.

Emerging market investors who gorged on an increasing array of corporate debt products face uncertain times as companies’ balance sheets come under pressure. Default and recovery rates will vary greatly by country, writes Sudip Roy.

Talk that several countries have entered a competitive devaluation race is wide of the mark.

Bad news from equity derivatives desks to have been relatively contained so far – although banks make it hard to find real numbers. But as investors remain wary of highly structured trades, and bank losses mount, will it be back to basics in 2009? Phil Moore finds out.

In Brazil, private equity is in vogue. Local billionaires Eike Batista and Andre Esteves are not the only people tapping the low valuation opportunities. Fund managers can be more selective within wider risk parameters as the true power of their key asset – cash – becomes obvious. Chloe Hayward reports.

More on Andrew Brown

The role of treasurer must be confined to prudent funding, investment and risk management, not making a profit.

Eighteen months ago, the chief executives of major financial firms were revered. We envied their elevated status – the jets, the bodyguards, the limousines and the layers of gatekeepers. Now these men are reduced to squirming schoolchildren who’ve been caught stealing from the communal cookie jar.

Thailand’s new finance minister is doing everything he can to get the country’s fundamentally sound banks lending again. He must also cope with political instability. Will Korn Chatikavanij be able to see the job through? asks Eric Ellis.

Global firms are once again rolling back their commitment to Asia. Will they never learn?