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Latin America's debt markets are proving their worth in financing big projects.

Explanations for the market's significant retreat in November are more complex than for previous years.

Investment banks need to think carefully about which institutions they market their services to.

Chinese bonds have no relative value. Its equity market is convoluted and stagnant. So why all the hype and hysteria? Theodore J Kim reports.

As banks get ready to divide up their bonus pool in December or early January, some fixed income traders had better get ready to be disappointed.

Noriba exits some investments early after strong performance.

CLSA and Asian Corporate Governance Association (ACGA) published their annual corporate governance rankings this year entitled “The Holy Grail”. The research, pored over by zealous regulators eager to pat themselves on the back, scores Asian markets on various issues affecting corporate governance, including regulation, enforcement and even “culture” (see table). Most notable this year is Taiwan’s jump up the table and Korea’s slide down it.

The exchange traded fund market is an area in which Barclays Global Investors can lay solid claim to being more successful than State Street Global Advisers. BGI has built up its ETF business (iShares) in five years to a level of $178 billion, compared with SSgA’s $80 billion.

General Electric’s consumer finance division is entering agent banking, hoping to get business from retail banks seeking to outsource their credit card businesses. Industry commentators believe the move could bring GE $250 million of additional profit over the next five years.

Standard Chartered has gained management of the White Pine structured investment vehicle from JP Morgan Chase. The transfer, in addition to the Whistlejacket SIV, makes Standard one of the larger players. White Pine was established by Banc One by structured finance stalwart, Jim Irvine. Apparently an internal team led by Irvine also bid to take over management of the vehicle. This is a business where economies of scale matter. The size of White Pine is $8 billion while Whistlejacket has $6.5 billion. But Standard Chartered is still some way behind the largest SIV, Sigma, which has $30 billion under management.

Conditions attached to buy-out completion is more a sign of desperation than discernment.

Brazilian and Mexican derivatives markets gain sophistication.