Fixed income research consumers tell us which research teams have impressed them most during the past 12 months.

Didn’t have time to go through your investment banking rivals’ results announcements? Don’t worry, we’ve done it for you, business by business.

Société Générale’s deep commitment to supporting the communities it works in wins it the award as Africa’s best bank for corporate responsibility.

Algeria

Austria

Europe can build a more integrated system.

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As part of Euromoney's 50th anniversary coverage, we profile some of the biggest names that we interviewed for our May CEE focus.

Prospects for a European deposit insurance scheme (EDIS), together with technology, allow a relatively upbeat assessment on bank merger opportunities, according to Société Générale CEO Frédéric Oudéa.

Disastrous fourth-quarter results cast a long shadow over Société Générale’s business, especially its corporate and investment bank. Deputy chief executive Séverin Cabannes has given up on fixed income. But is his plan to refocus on core strengths enough to reverse its fortunes?

After disastrous fourth-quarter results, Société Générale’s growth and profitability targets lie in tatters. Read on for a guide to Dominic O’Neill’s report on Séverin Cabannes’ efforts to refocus the corporate investment bank he leads, and whether or not this can recoup the group’s credibility.

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HSBC retains the top spot.

It’s growing in areas such as equity derivatives, Africa and digital banking. But is this enough to make up for the poor performance in French retail banking?

Chance of Société Générale merger remote, but bigger European banks to emerge in ‘medium term’.

While others race for scale in the region, Société Générale has become the first of the big regional groups to dismantle its network voluntarily.

UniCredit's CEO puts his money where his mouth is.

Bulk up, or leave it to those with the finances and the commitment to the region to see if they can make a success of it.

Absa’s efforts to establish wholesale-banking partnerships outside Africa, possibly with Barclays or Société Générale, underlines the importance of international links to African finance.

Senior management at Société Générale sees a unique opportunity for growth in Africa, including east Africa, Nigeria and the lusophone countries. The aim is to be much more than the only French bank left standing on the continent. Instead, the bank is courting regional clients by building local markets and structured finance platforms, while its investment in mobile money could be the seed of a much bigger African consumer business.

The west African state has reclaimed its status as the most attractive francophone market south of the Sahara. International banks are rushing to do business there.

From the United Nations and the European Commission to customers and shareholders, the world’s banks face increasing pressure not only to consider their broader role in society but also to take actions that have a positive impact on it. There is no doubt that most chief executives take this challenge seriously. Whether they take it far enough remains to seen.

Partnership could replace broken Barclays links; follows rumours of sale of Société Générale South Africa custody unit to Absa.

Société Générale's online bank is the biggest in France - and one of the most aggressive.

Bank chief executives in Europe are increasingly obsessed with their new or rebooted digital arms. These businesses promise to fend off new competitors and capture a next generation of clients, while piloting front- and back-office innovations. They could even offer the best chance of expanding in the eurozone, making banking union a reality. But will these investments merely play into the hands of the new rivals and hasten the banks’ decline?

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