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Capital Raising & Corporate Finance

EM RISKS: DEALING WITH THE WILD CARDS

This year has already proven to be a wild one when it comes to emerging markets risks. Preparing for what is to come in volatile and disparate markets is ever more central to the treasury and risk management functions.

Economics, Policy & Regulation

ESCALATING SANCTIONS COULD HIT GROWTH

An escalation of sanctions on Russia stemming from its actions in Ukraine could pressure Russia’s overall economic growth. Some companies, particularly those perceived to have close ties to president Vladimir Putin and his inner circle, may have difficulties tapping the international capital markets for funding.

Capital Raising & Corporate Finance

EUROPEAN CORPORATE CREDIT QUALITY IS ON THE RISE

Corporate credit-rating upgrades in the first quarter of 2014 outnumbered downgrades in Europe, the Middle East and Africa for the first time since 2008, according to Moody’s Investors Service. The rating agency says positive credit trends in the EMEA region are likely to continue through 2014, despite potential negative events in Russia and Ukraine.

Capital Raising & Corporate Finance

EUROZONE EYES QUANTITATIVE EASING

Inflation in the eurozone slipped to 0.5% at an annual rate in March, its lowest level since 2009. The persistence of low inflation prompted policymakers to discuss quantitative easing (QE) and a negative deposit rate, putting some downward pressure on the euro.

Capital Raising & Corporate Finance

GLOBAL IPO PROCEEDS RISE, BUT WILL IT LAST?

Led by the Asia-Pacific region, global proceeds from initial public offerings totaled more than $34 billion in the first quarter of 2014, an increase of 77% from the same period a year earlier, according to Renaissance Capital

Capital Raising & Corporate Finance

IRAN: FERTILE LANDSCAPE FOR INVESTMENT?

With good demographics and potential opportunities for FDI in a range of sectors, Iran is poised to make the most of further relaxing of economic sanctions.

Capital Raising & Corporate Finance

RMB: GETTING READY FOR THE REDBACK

Fast-paced developments in China and overseas are bolstering the renminbi’s international expansion.

Capital Raising & Corporate Finance

SANCTIONS THREATEN RUSSIAN DEALS

Mergers and acquisitions involving Russian companies, including Morgan Stanley’s planned sale of its global oil-trading unit to Rosneft, are threatened by Western sanctions on Moscow over the Ukraine crisis.

Banking

SAUDI INVESTMENT BANK NAMES FEMALE CEO

NCB Capital, a major Saudi Arabian investment bank, named Sarah Al-Suhaimi, an accomplished asset manager, as its new CEO. She is the first woman to head an investment bank in the kingdom. The Saudi government owns part of National Commercial Bank, which controls NCB Capital.

Capital Raising & Corporate Finance

SRI LANKA: LIBERALIZING FOR GROWTH

Sri Lanka has an open business environment, but challenges—not least its recovery from the civil war that ended in 2009—remain.

Capital Raising & Corporate Finance

THE AFRICAN LIONS ROAR

REGIONAL REPORT <br /> Sub-Saharan Africa’s economic lions are pulling the continent into an unprecedented era of wealth creation and prosperity. With year-on-year growth of between 7% and 9%, Ghana, Angola, Mozambique, Zambia and Ethiopia have played a pivotal role in helping Africa’s economy triple in size since 2000.

Economics, Policy & Regulation

TURKEY: CRACKS ARE STARTING TO APPEAR

Financial markets may initially have reacted well to the reelection of the AKP and prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdoan, but his success belies deep-seated political and economic problems.