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In a recent interview with Euromoney magazine, Atsushi Saito, president and CEO of the Tokyo Stock Exchange Group outlined the TSE's plan to increase the number of ETFs on the Tokyo exchange to 100 in three years’ time

Best global bank 2008

Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) now claims to have the world’s biggest market capitalization among publicly listed banks, reaching just under $339 billion at the end of 2007. That amounts to annual growth of 35%, just one of a number of impressive indicators of the bank’s recent development: it also recorded a 65% increase in after-tax profits for the fiscal year and a 16% increase in return on average equity. Although many of China’s banks found increasing deposits a reasonably straightforward process, ICBC also impressed with its efforts to diversify income streams. It increased net fee and commission income by 110% (admittedly from a relatively small base), and sale of wealth management products by Rmb1.234 trillion ($178.8 billion), a year-on-year increase of 182%.

Texas Pacific Group Adjusting risk management to fit the changing market, TPG’s expertise shines through tough times for private equity.

Banco Popular Dominicano continues to excel in the Dominican Republic and is the leader in the retail market. In 2007, the bank completed a subordinated debt issue raising RD$4.1 billion ($125 million) and carrying a 10-year tenor. The decision to raise money was driven by an interest in increasing its capital base to support growth. The deal is the largest issue made by a financial institution in the Dominican Republic and enabled the bank to grow its loan portfolio and achieve a capital adequacy ratio of 14.3%.

Not only is Bancolombia the only Colombian bank to have a level-three ADR programme with shares listed in New York, it also successfully raised a further $445 million of equity in July last year through this programme. These shares offer a rare opportunity for investors to gain exposure to Colombia. These funds, along with $590 million in loans, were earmarked to pay for Bancolombia’s acquisition of Salvadorean bank Banco Agricola Comercial de el Salvador.

In Europe and Asia, UBS is the closest challenger to the top two prime brokerage players but Deutsche Bank and Credit Suisse are arguably now the best placed to grow. Neil Wilson reports.

Eurobank EFG, Greece’s second-largest bank, impressed the markets with strong growth at home and abroad, where it is building an impressive franchise in southeastern Europe.

A part of the RZB group since 2003, Priorbank is one of the two largest banks in Belarus, alongside last year’s winner, Belagroprombank. It is also the only privately owned bank in Belarus’s top six banks by size. It made significant strides forward in 2007: assets grew by 48%, loans by 44% and deposits by 32%. The bank gained more than 134,000 new customers last year, bringing its customer base above the 750,000 mark, while the number of branches grew from 61 in 2006 to 81 by the end of 2007. Return on equity was up by one-quarter, while profit after tax rose by one-third.

JPMorgan

The Dutch banking market has experienced unprecedented change with Fortis’s acquisition of ABN Amro’s local businesses and ING’s decision to merge its Postbank and ING brands.

As the second largest financial institution in Montenegro, NLB Montenegrobanka is a key player in the country’s burgeoning banking sector, serving a growing number of retail and corporate customers through its 15-strong branch network. In 2007, the bank nearly tripled its profits to €3.4 million. As a member of Slovenia’s NLB banking group, NLB Montenegrobanka has helped to forge important economic links between Slovenia and Montenegro. By providing consumer loans for goods manufactured by Slovene producers, the bank has helped Slovene companies to enter the Montenegrin market. At the same time it provides loans and other forms of export financing to Montenegrin companies exporting to Slovenia.