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Recent political instability in Ukraine has once again reminded investors of the risks of investing in emerging market economies. Russian equities have fallen sharply, and the central bank has had to aggressively raise rates. This had followed months of broader volatility in mainstream emerging markets in which currencies have weakened – particularly in the so-called ‘Fragile Five’ of Indonesia, Brazil, India, South Africa and Turkey. Sovereign and corporate balance sheets are under scrutiny amidst slowing emerging markets growth

Central bank governor DeLisle Worrell explains how Barbados has managed to emerge from the global financial crisis stronger and economically more diverse

Rates buyers are moving back into Portuguese government bonds as yields fall, growth returns and exports boom. The country finished the capital markets part of its 2014 funding programme in the first two weeks of the year and now looks forward to a possible clean exit from the bailout, which would have been unthinkable six months ago. That would be a political triumph for Portugal and the Troika. But it might be a step too far.

Some have dubbed Antony Jenkins' reign at Barclays a work in transition. To me, it is undoubtedly a mess in transition.

In attempting to curb the excesses of the leveraged lending market, regulators might end up pushing it into the arms of the very private equity sponsors they are trying to rein in.

Peso and exchange reserves have taken a tumble, interest rates have spiked and the money supply has tripled, yet analysts remain confident the economy is fundamentally sound. Can president Kirchner get full control, or will she leave it to the next government?

The peso’s plunge precipitating the emerging markets sell-off is bang in line with Argentina’s lowest-scoring economic risk indicator and is a home-grown problem linked to an incoherent economic plan and poor communication.

The prospect of progress in Azerbaijan’s equity markets throws into sharp relief the recent lack of it in those of its Caspian neighbour Kazakhstan.

Sells London markets business; Africa build-out continues

Pravin Gordhan says that he has given a counter-cyclical boost to South Africa and built up its underlying growth potential. But with capital flowing out, what more can the finance minister do to cut the country’s twin deficits?

The fundamental dislocation of the region’s equity markets may actually drive DCM issuance in the coming year as a much-stalled pipeline of equity deals turns to M&A in frustration – and DCM deals will be printed to finance this predicted wave.

By coincidence, also in February, Euromoney hosted its annual awards dinner for the private banking industry and Tom Kalaris, Barclays’ former head of wealth management, sat at the top table. Kalaris resigned from Barclays last June. I have always liked Tom and will watch with interest how his career progresses. The compere for the dinner was Alastair Campbell, director of communications from 1997 to 2003 for prime minister Tony Blair. Campbell offered one key nugget of advice to the group of assembled financiers: "In order to win the public relations battle, you have to convince public opinion that banks and bankers provide a real service that individuals and the economy need." Obviously, Campbell is correct, but is anyone listening in the banks’ luxurious executive suites?