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Corporate treasury staff are finding that new technology and systems are freeing them from the day-to-day grind and allowing them to concentrate on strategic thinking. But the full potential of this development will only be realized once common standards are agreed. Jack and Wolfi Large report.

Banks’ customers, from the corporate to the individual, demand payment systems that are quick, standardized and reliable. But the growth of the internet and other new technologies has stimulated the creation of payment systems that leave banks out of the equation altogether. By Jack and Wolfi Large.

Euromoney’s latest annual survey of international cash management services shows that banks are responding to their customers’ demands for a more comprehensive and flexible range of services. The evidence points to the decline of the specialist and the rise of the global provider. Jack and Wolfi Large investigate

This has been week of two key changes, closely linked: long-term yields are at last rising and emerging markets are seeing a correction in bonds and stocks.

Regional rankings To obtain this ranking, the overall global country risk results were broken down by region. In addition, Transparency International’s Extended Corruption Perception Index was combined with the overall ranking to create a score out of 105. This combined total was then scaled down to a score out of 100. The difference in ranking and overall score between the original ranking and that incorporating the CPI data has been incorporated in the results. View full methodology

Regional rankings To obtain this ranking, the overall global country risk results were broken down by region. In addition, Transparency International’s Extended Corruption Perception Index was combined with the overall ranking to create a score out of 105. This combined total was then scaled down to a score out of 100. The difference in ranking and overall score between the original ranking and that incorporating the CPI data has been incorporated in the results. View full methodology

With the notable exception of Deutsche Bank, German investment banks’ performance has lagged their French peers for most of the decade. But the German sector is picking up on new market possibilities, with Commerzbank in particular looking to rebuild its business after a dramatic recovery. Philip Moore reports.

Brazil’s biggest private sector bank has announced the creation of a new subsidiary, Bradesco Investment Bank. This will focus on all aspects of the local and international capital markets business as well as asset management. Bradesco is a retail powerhouse but the bank’s CEO, Marcio Cypriano, is keen to take advantage of growing capital markets activity from Brazilian entities. Cypriano told Euromoney last year: “In general, we should be bigger and better in capital markets. That business should closely match Bradesco’s retail performance.” [See Euromoney December 2005, “Bradesco's plan of attack”.]

The Iranian authorities’ recent granting of operating licences to two new private banks (Bank Sarmaye Daneshgah and Bank Pasargeda) suggests that the sector has a future, despite president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s apparent disdain for his predecessor’s reformist agenda.

By Lawrence White

Fund managers' priorities for 2006