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A free market for Russia's electricity is within sight as the break-up of the power sector bolts through the halfway mark. Ben Aris reports.

The EBRD has done such a good job in central and eastern Europe, opening up market access and catalyzing transformation of financial systems, that it now may no longer be needed. It must look once again to more troubled economies farther east to renew its mission. Julian Evans reports.

The Kazakh banking sector, which has leapt forward at a remarkable rate for the past four years under the strict supervision of the central bank, is about to get a new supervisor. What next for this success story? Chris Pala reports.

The new management fee structure adopted by Infiniti Capital is likely to ruffle a few feathers in the fund of funds industry. The Swiss investment house is launching a fund of funds, for wealthy individuals and institutional investors, on a zero entry fee basis.

UK banking group HBOS has received many plaudits for its innovative financing in 2003. Deals have included covered bonds, securitization programmes and retail-driven tier 1 capital deals. When you have had to fund £55 billion of asset growth in the past 12 months alone, you are always going to be on the look-out for new funding methods. "In 2003 we had to fund this growth and lengthen wholesale maturities, but we didn't want to over issue in any sector," said HBOS head of funding and liquidity Tony Main at a Credit Suisse First Boston credit conference held in December.

Senior credit analyst, Cheyne Capital

In just over 12 years Kazakhstan has recast itself from a basket case economy into net creditor to the world thanks to its vast oil reserves. But there are worries that the boom is not being used effectively for the benefit of the citizens and that foreign investors might be interested only in exploiting the country's petroleum reserves. Chris Pala reports.

UBS Wealth Management, Sarasin, Bordier & Cie, Credit Suisse Private Banking, Coutts, Bank Privat, Degroof, Mandatum, SG Private Banking, Sal Oppenheim, CenE Bankiers, Banif, Cuatrecasas, Carnegie, Citco, Man Group, Noriba, UBS, PwC.

Deal: Center Parcs flotation

If you are accustomed to the light and space of the trading floor, sitting on orthopaedically sensitive office furniture in front of ergonomically designed keyboards, spare a thought for your counterparts in private banking.

Private banking 2004: The reinvention of private banking

Iraq's banks look set to bounce back this year, shrugging off the crippling impact of nationalization, a decade of sanctions and a US-led invasion. Economic reforms introduced by the Coalition Provisional Authority and the US-appointed Iraqi Governing Council have opened the way for the entry of foreign banks and the consolidation of the local private banking sector.