If a bank does not win a particular award, it does not mean that its website is bad. Almost without exception the websites Euromoney saw in 2002 were well thought out. They now generally do what clients want them to do, not just what clever bankers and developers have realized they are capable of doing. And most firms undertake strict approval processes before they turn a good idea into a website. So it is little wonder that the overall quality has improved markedly over the past year.

Financial institutions should work harder to force their clients to be thin, according to a new report from Meridien research and IDC Financial Services entitled 'I'm Not Quite Dead Yet': Fat Clients Cling to Life.

Guy Hands built a reputation for private-equity innovation while at Nomura, which had deep pockets he could depend on. His new venture, Terra Firma, has managed to impress investors enough to raise its own funds but must now also out-think rivals that have adopted many of Hands' ideas.

Many Asian firms are adopting imaginative strategies to cope with the difficult business environment and improving their treatment of shareholders. Hong Kong companies have caught the analysts’ eyes.

Chief executive officer, HSBC Amanah Finance

Jorge Jasson spent most of the Tuesday before Thanksgiving on JPMorgan's corporate jet, going to seven different one-on-one client meetings. But he wasn't selling a new deal. He was explaining his departure as head of credit and rates for emerging markets. He calls it his "farewell roadshow tour".

President & CEO, AG Bisset & Co

In this year's Asian 100 the notable profitability of the top Australian banks reflects an economy that has outperformed most of the world. Among its neighbours, some Korean banks put on an impressive growth spurt as the economy recovered.

As more and more of their corporate customers fell out of favour, banks looked the best bet in bond markets. It couldn’t last. Lately investors have become more choosy. Some banks have been shut out of the public bond markets and have had to explore other forms of funding.

No bank has won this award before. Frankly, no bank has ever deserved it. Over the past three years, Euromoney has seen banks that are good at online fixed income, some that are good at forex, others that are good at equity or derivatives and so on. Most banks had some good sites and some mediocre ones. No firm has been able to boast of high-quality offerings in all areas.

Markets have crushed banks this year but now some see a profit to be made in arbitraging debt against equity. It's a smart trick. Turning it into a sustainable business will be even smarter.