Central & Eastern Europe Archives

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Banking

ECONOMIC AFTERSHOCKS

DEAR READER Geopolitical instability seems to be everywhere these days, whether we look to North Africa and the Middle East or Eastern Europe, to Southern Asia or Southeast Asia, and it weighs on financial markets and policymakers worldwide.

Capital Raising & Corporate Finance

SLOVAKIA: BRIGHT PROSPECTS

FRONTIER MARKETS REPORT | SLOVAKIA Slovakia has moved resolutely to compete with other former Soviet-bloc nations for foreign direct investment.

Economics, Policy & Regulation

EDITOR’S LETTER: SANCTIONS AND GLOBAL DEALS

DEAR READER The return of growth in most of Europe and the renewed leadership of the US in economic advancement should not distract from critical developments in some of the major emerging economies.

Capital Raising & Corporate Finance

RUSSIA SPEEDS UP NEW PAYMENT SYSTEM

MILESTONES: RUSSIA

Capital Raising & Corporate Finance

WILL M-PESA FLY IN EUROPE?

MILESTONES: EUROPE African success story M-Pesa dials up Europe.

Awards

BEST BANKS 2014: EUROPE

The region battled continuing recession or, at best, slow growth, a tightening regulatory environment and country-specific banking taxes or fines for past misdemeanors.

Capital Raising & Corporate Finance

ANNUAL SURVEY: WORLD’S BEST BANKS 2014

In our 21st annual survey, Global Finance identifies the best banks in 150 countries and eight regions. The winners are not always the biggest banks, but rather, the best—those with the qualities that corporations should look for when choosing a bank.

Economics, Policy & Regulation

BALTICS BOUNCE BACK

Although hit hard by the global financial crisis, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia recovered quickly. The three countries are building ever-closer EU ties to separate themselves economically from Eastern neighbors.

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

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.

Emerging & Frontier Markets

NEW SLOVAKIAN PRESIDENT BOASTS NO EXPERIENCE, NO PARTY AFFILIATION

Slovakia has known rapid and unexpected changes in its political fortune in its 20 years as an independent country.

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.