December 2021/January 2022
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FEATURES
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Qatar’s banks eye consolidation as blockade and Covid pressures ease
The tie up between Masraf Al Rayan and Al Khalij Commercial Bank could be the first of many as cost cutting and profitability top the banking agenda. -
Asia races against Libor deadlines
The whole world must deal with Libor transition, but the situation is especially complex in Asia. Each jurisdiction has a different approach to benchmarks, and several countries are going to end up with multiple rates. On top of that there are big questions about liquidity. So, is Asia ready? -
Argentine banks face competition from all sides
The Peronist playbook is back in force: Argentina’s monetization of fiscal deficits relies on the banking system buying central bank and government securities. This time around the movie has a new subplot: credit growth in both the corporate and retail sectors is increasingly taking place outside the traditional banking sector. -
Global hires drive change at Mashreq Bank
Ahmed Abdelaal is the first non-Ghurair family member to lead Mashreq Bank. His first two Covid-marred years in charge as chief executive were a baptism of fire, but he has hired well and decisively, putting in place a cosmopolitan management team that is transforming the Dubai-based lender. -
Asia enjoys a banner year for M&A despite tight travel restrictions
Covid left Asia’s big markets closed to business travel, yet M&A is surging, with Australia and southeast Asia at the forefront of activity. China, where the focus is on local investments, is, however, bucking the trend. -
Rabobank’s Draijer: Finance is vital to food transition
Rabobank CEO Wiebe Draijer says that private finance must have a role in financing the transition to a more sustainable, equitable and healthy way of feeding the planet. -
Nazir Razak: Reflections on CIMB, 1MDB and a family name
Nazir Razak, who built CIMB from an obscure Malaysian merchant bank to a pan-regional universal player, is the youngest of five brothers. The eldest, Najib, was the prime minister who was convicted for his role in the 1MDB scandal. That pitted the two against one another. In the background of the brothers’ opposition was the legacy of their father. -
Birth of a standard: Where the ISSB came from and what it will do
The International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) is one of the most closely watched developments in climate standards to have been announced at COP26. Although its launch was the culmination of an ambitious project, its work is only just beginning.
THE EUROMONEY 25
At the end of each year, Euromoney takes a close look at the performance of 25 key institutions that we cover. Speaking to senior executives at these firms, we assess what went right and what didn’t, together with what might lie ahead.
This year, we have also examined the views of those at the top on two important factors for 2022: their own and others’ asset quality, and the disruptive threat of China. Their observations are discussed in the two features below, followed by our reports for 2021 on the Euromoney 25.
At the end of each year, Euromoney takes a close look at the performance of 25 key institutions that we cover. Speaking to senior executives at these firms, we assess what went right and what didn’t, together with what might lie ahead.
This year, we have also examined the views of those at the top on two important factors for 2022: their own and others’ asset quality, and the disruptive threat of China. Their observations are discussed in the two features below. Click on the banner above for our reports for 2021 on each of the banks in the Euromoney 25.
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Covid barely dented the strength of the banking system and most banks have been steadily releasing the provisions they took. Euromoney talks to the leaders of our 25 reviewed banks and others about the challenges they face as the world normalizes.
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It is more important than ever that banks get China right. Senior executives from the Euromoney 25 discuss what to expect in 2022 as the world’s second-largest economy enters a period of more stable growth.
OPINION
OPINION
LEADERS
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Rebooting the financial system with a new currency could be what’s needed to give Argentina’s economy a way forward.
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One of the strongest themes of COP26 was the involvement of the private sector on an unprecedented scale. What happens next?
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The Morgan Stanley veteran is a sound pick, but is an old-school investment banker the right person to run the world’s largest wealth manager?
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There is no shortage of great ideas in digitalizing trade finance. If only all these systems and programmes would talk to one another.
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Perhaps it is not such a strange time to bet billions on Turkey’s economy.
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The Thai bank takes a step forward in its strategy to upgrade to a financial technology group.
COLUMNS
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The controversy around voluntary carbon markets has deterred banks from getting involved. They need to worry less about reputational risk and more about the planet.
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The fiscal deterioration of Latin America’s former totem has more than just the pandemic behind it.
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It’s not just asset managers closing their books ahead of year-end that is behind the loss of liquidity in the most active fixed income markets.
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Alexander Wynaendts has worked in insurance for a quarter of a century, but is not a stranger to investment banking.
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