With a shrinking economy and a deteriorating balance of payments, Ukraine is in a downward spiral that risks plunging the country into crisis if the current political unrest is not defused with haste.

US stock indices are at record highs but the exuberance is not irrational, say bullish analysts, because the level of valuations is justified by strong earnings and a market with some of the world’s most profitable companies.

China’s once-in-a-generation economic reforms have largely pleased some notable bears, as new policies reflect Beijing’s recognition that a growth-at-all-costs investment-led model is bust, while capital-account opening could help navigate short-term credit challenges.

High-volume European car makers look set to emerge stronger than many thought possible from the lowest sales volumes for 17 years and decades of overcapacity issues. This could release more than EUR15 billion for shareholders, new projects or acquisitions, writes Michael Ward, Head of Diversified Industrials.

Regulation, staying on top of cash flows and the importance of agility – our experts from EMEA, Asia Pacific and the US discuss the major issues facing corporate treasurers. By Etienne Bernard, Head of Transaction Services, EMEA, Julian Oldale, Head of ICM International Solutions, Americas, and Manfred Schmoelz, Head of Transaction Services, Asia Pacific.

Global banking regulators have placed the risk-absorbing capacity of government bonds at the centre of their brave new financial world, ostensibly opening up revenue opportunities for banks in collateral-transformation for OTC purposes.

Author and former trader Nassim Taleb, who shook the financial world with his best-selling book on risk The Black Swan, recently spoke at an RBS Insight dinner for clients in Milan. Here, he shares his thoughts on handling the unpredictable.

With inflation continuing to fall and growth flatlining, pressure is mounting on the ECB as it edges closer to exhausting less contentious policy weapons to combat the threat of deflation.

Typhoon Haiyan is tempering exuberance over the Philippines’ growth story by exposing structural limits on its growth potential – most significantly inadequate infrastructure and governance issues.

In an exclusive interview, a former drafter of the Volcker rule explains why, in its current trajectory, the flagship regulation will fail to distinguish legitimate market-making and proprietary risk-taking while banks sound the alarm on compliance costs, hit to earnings and extraterritoriality concerns.

Risk managers have made use of exchange-traded FX options to hedge foreign exposures this year amid a volatile global macro environment.

Italian companies are poised to issue bonds quickly as growing investor confidence creates significant opportunities to access the market, writes Andrea Soro, RBS Country Executive, Italy.

An end to Quantitative Easing could pose a number of corporate financing challenges. The risks include rising medium-to-long-term interest rates, wider credit spreads and higher yields on risk assets, writes Eu-Jin Ang, Senior Director, Corporate Advisory, RBS.

Allowing China’s financial institutions to establish wholesale branches in the UK is a major step in cementing London’s pre-eminent role in global finance. It holds out the promise of greater investment flows into Britain’s recovering economy, while making it easier for British companies to export to China, writes Janet Ming, Head of RBS China desk in London.

As economic headwinds increase across Asia, darker clouds could be about to descend on the region’s corporate credit markets thanks to increased pressure on balance sheets. However, on a relative-value basis, Asia still looks attractive.

South Africa has, on the face of it, huge strengths: commodities, rule of law, strong institutions and consumption prospects, a social contract – aided by decent incomes per capita – and a sophisticated financial system, among other factors. But it’s failing in five key areas.

It’s unclear whether a negative deposit rate – as mooted by ECB officials in recent weeks – would trigger corporates to invest excess cash or, given risk aversion and the deficit of demand, continue to hoard cash, say analysts.

China’s leaders are likely to disappoint those hoping for sweeping economic reforms at the next big meeting of Chinese leaders - the third plenum of the 18th Communist Party congress.