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The region’s equity markets are beginning to outshine debt and M&A.

There are generally clear advance indications of ECB interest rate increases. However, the precise dimensions of change over the longer term are harder to predict, leaving market adjustments trailing.

Ivan Ritossa, Barclays Capital’s global head of FX, has assumed responsibility for the bank’s rates business in Asia. His new remit includes fixed income, and commodity and equity-linked products, run out of the bank’s Singapore office. A Barclays spokesperson said: "Asia contains the fastest-growing economies in the world. Developing and building our business across this diverse region is fundamental to the global growth plans of the firm. Since joining the firm in 2002, Ivan has transformed the foreign exchange business into a world-class performer."

Despite facing fierce competition from such rivals as BNP Paribas, Citigroup, HSBC and UBS, Deutsche Bank emerged victorious in the race to secure the award for best structured product house in the Islamic finance market. Thanks to the extensive conceptual groundwork the German bank laid in 2005, in 2006 it was able to take full advantage of the explosive growth in the structured products segment of the Islamic finance market and offer a wide range of instruments spanning different asset classes and regions.

A smash in the US, but tax advantages are not available for Europe.

Arne Hassel has joined the $10 billion London-based currency and alternatives manager Millennium Global Investments as managing director of the funds of hedge funds business. Hassel was previously CIO of funds of hedge funds at Coronation Fund Managers, before which he was head of hedge fund strategies at GSAM in London.

Mexican fixed-line operator Maxcom almost defaulted on its debt a few years ago. But in December the company successfully returned to the international capital markets, proving that the appetite for Latin American high-yield credits is as strong as ever. Chloe Hayward speaks to CFO José-Antonio Solbes about the company’s turnaround.

Pushing beyond the boundaries

The UK has been eagerly awaiting the introduction of tax-free real estate investment trusts for years, so when the legislation permitting them finally took effect at the start of 2007 nine of the UK’s largest property companies were ready to make the switch.

Summary table of top banks, with quick links to more related content on euromoney.com

Pushing beyond the boundaries

At Euromoney’s Paris Forum held at the end of 2006, the chief executive of BNP Paribas, Baudouin Prot, outlined some of the challenges facing major financial institutions. Principal among these is the growth and globalization of the banking industry. The interview was conducted by Chris Garnett, Euromoney’s director of conferences. Read or listen to it here.