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During his more than three years at the helm of the Bank of Portugal, 42-year-old Antonio de Sousa has successfully managed a delicate balancing act, avoiding the disputes over monetary policy that had often flared between the central bank and the treasury.

Managing director Asia, BankBoston

Next month marks the biggest change to London's stock market since Big Bang of 1986. On October 20 the London Stock Exchange (LSE) will replace its current quote-driven system of market-makers with an electronic order book - initially for the market's top 100 shares and later, perhaps, for the whole market. This innovation, accompanied by a number of other changes to trading practices and regulations, will have a major impact on both the liquidity and transparency of the stock market, But it may, inadvertently, erode the LSE's virtual monopoly on securities trading in the UK.

Finance Minister of the Year: Chubais forces the pace

Did Bankers Trust buy Alex Brown to make itself more attractive to a potential buyer? And should NationsBank buy First Chicago to give it more bargaining power in any future merger talks, possibly with BankAmerica? As America awaits its biggest-ever banking mergers, such are the advanced strategies under discussion. All will become clear after the final round of mega-mergers, reports Peter Lee.

The biggest contest in the 21st century will be to win in China. Whether it's IPOs, M&A or mutual funds, growth forecasts for China put all other markets in the shade. But the world's biggest potential market is also the toughest to crack. What's the right strategy? Steven Irvine looks at how the major investment banks are positioning themselves.

Belt-tightening is not easy, particularly when the belt is an imported fine leather one with a high-priced Louis Vuitton label. As the IMF urges financial self-control, Thailand's elite are finding the austerity package hard to swallow.

A special report prepared by the Budapest Stock Exchange.

Global Financing Guide: Pleasing the crowd

Asset privatized: Svyazinvest

Even pension funds are showing an adventurous streak and investing in Russian equity. A tremendous inflow of foreign capital and an increasing foreign ADR market has made Russia the world's best performer so far this year and left some fund-managers waiting for a correction.