Continued economic growth is under threat from a backlog in infrastructure development. Obstacles to foreign and domestic financing of the sector urgently need to be overcome. Rob Dwyer reports.

Investors should diversify into developed market companies with high emerging markets exposures to capture these economies’ growth.

In the past few years the country has reduced its dependence on offshore banking and links to Argentina and has grown its exports of agricultural produce and position as an important entrepôt. But its capital markets remain severely undeveloped, a situation that might be improved by a programme of privatization. Jason Mitchell reports from Montevideo.

Implications for short-selling bans; CCP should boost liquidity

Second rise in as many weeks; Analysts sceptical of its effectiveness

Investment banker turned economics professor Michael Pettis has insights and forthright views on China. He has two main targets: the country’s cheerleaders and the one-note naysayers, arguing neither side understands the subtleties and complexities of the China debate.

CEO Khosla sees China as key; Banks outsource research, advisory to cut costs

Turkey’s IPO market has disappointed this year. The wrong deals were sold at the wrong prices, leaving a bad taste in investors’ mouths. Can the lessons be learnt to ensure next years’ big pipeline gets completed? Nick Lord reports.

Senior Deutsche Bank and JPMorgan hires; Barclays launches Saudi arm

Acute mid-market refinancing need; New funds target sector

Pan-African group restructures operations; Investment unit to trade 17 African currencies

Swiss bank announces key hires; Next step in recovery from Pactual sale

Development bank crowds out private sector; But has vital role in infrastructure development

The SEC and Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s findings on what caused the May 6 flash crash are not convincing everyone involved in trading.

New shareholder comes on board; Sufficient funds to hand to repay Eurobond

Bond resurgence eschews riskier banks; Project bonds might seal demise of loan dominance in Gulf

In the battle to rebuild war-torn Afghanistan, Kabulbank inserted itself as a key player, building the country’s largest deposit base and becoming the payment agent for many government enterprises. But a run on the bank in August led to the ousting of colourful poker-playing bank owner Sherkhan Farnood. What does this mean for the country’s banking sector? Eric Ellis reports.

Canadian bank sees great potential to distribute credit investments; BlueBay’s founders hope clients will take comfort from RBC’s capital strength

As Iraqi oil production is ramped up, a big bank run and Al Qaeda attacks are undermining basic faith in the financial system. Nevertheless, especially in safer areas such as Iraqi Kurdistan, there are signs of how the country’s potential could be exploited.

Cairn boss breaches protocol; Vedanta struggling to raise cash

To hire seven FIG bankers by December; Adding 50 in Asia over next nine months

Scotching a reputation for cowboy practices, they are responding to demands for more sophistication and the state’s desire to create an important financial centre. New respectability is accompanied by impending consolidation that will leave eight or so leading houses. Elliot Wilson reports.

Hungary’s foreign banks are adamant that they’re in for the long haul. But with a deeply hostile government, a hefty tax bill in the offing and huge mortgage portfolios sinking ever further underwater, is their position sustainable? Lucy Fitzgeorge-Parker reports.

The confirmation of disappointing third-quarter sales and trading revenues for most banks set the stage for a crucial fourth-quarter push by investment bankers – the push to maximize their own bonus payments.

The cancellation of the Nedbank acquisition reflects badly on HSBC.

Pension funds are slashing their allocations to equities and reorienting their portfolios to more accurately match liabilities. Strategically that makes sense. Tactically it smacks of buying at the top and it is already creating distortions in markets.

Lack of transparency concerns potential partners; Cinda leads the group in JV creation

Being a fixed-income investor in Europe just got a whole lot trickier.

The Irish government must push through an austerity budget and stabilize its finances before returning to the capital markets next June. It hopes to resolve its banking system and property sector problems through early recognition of losses. If this bold experiment fails, the country might yet be a test case for euro sovereign debt rescheduling.

Spate of interventions boosts volumes; Emerging countries seek to stem capital inflows