Search results for

The World Bank's mission is to alleviate poverty by channelling resources to developing nations - but without displacing the private sector. Instead, over the last seven years, it has concentrated on heavily subsidized financing for countries with ready access to private capital. 70% of its non-aid resources went to 11 nations - equal to an insignificant 1% of private sector flows. Funding for countries without international ratings dropped from 40% to less than 1%. Adam Lerrick argues that the Bank must transform itself from a capital-intensive lender into the designer of an intellectual infrastructure for the emerging world.

Deals of the year - Top quality issuers succeed in demanding markets

Bad vibes in Bishopsgate

Euromoney's latest brokers' poll of Asia's Best Companies took place against the backdrop of cyclical economic recovery accompanied by partial reform. India's best have come top in a number of sectors for the first time, while Korean and Hong Kong corporates also do well. After robust growth this year IT and other technology companies continue to top several country polls. Research by Andrew Newby and Alexa Marx.

Deals of the year - Top quality issuers succeed in demanding markets

The US could be in for more than a few surprises this holiday season as it unwraps the Financial Modernization Act of 1999 - its latest gift from Congress. It's a big bill with lots of attachments. Principally, it allows banks to conduct securities and insurance business under the umbrella of new financial holding companies and boosts the power of the Federal Reserve as regulator of these. Another outcome may be to extend federal safety net protection to lending for pork-barrel projects. James Smalhout reports.

E-commerce - Redefining exchanges

Hedging equity risk is now possible through the Athens Derivatives Exchange (Adex) with its futures contract based on the FTSE-ASE 20 Index covering blue chip stocks. Options and bond futures are on their way as are tie-ups with other European exchanges and regional indices. Adex chairman Panayotis Alexakis, a finance professor at Athens University and a business consultant, explains how he believes the market will develop. By Michael Peterson.

Asia's best companies 1999

People: Mark Collier, Chairman and CEO, Investia

People: Mark Collier, Chairman and CEO, Investia

People: Clare Marshall, former treasurer, Export Development Corporation