DIFC Investments, the investment arm of the Dubai International Financial Centre, launches DIFC Global, a new subsidiary that provides a global network of premium business centres and corporate services that support companies in developing their international business.

In late October, the government of Kazakhstan offered to buy 25% stakes in the top four banks in the country, for a total of over US$5bn, through its investment vehicle, Kazina. The deal still needs to be approved by the banks’ shareholders.

The governor of the Bank of Latvia, Ilmārs Rimšēvičs, says he is confident that Latvia is not going the way of Iceland. “The short-term debt of Iceland is twice as high as the total gross external debt of Latvia. Moreover, half of the banks’ short-term debt is in fact long-term”, he told an investor conference in London on November 4.

emeafinance has announced the winners of its inaugural Africa banking awards. The awards recognise the best banks throughout Africa, over the last exciting 12 months for the continent.
The awards generated a great response, with banks from all over Africa sending in submissions. emeafinance chose the winners based on key indicators such as market share, key deals, strategy, profitability, return on equity, and cost/income ratio.
You can read a full write-up of the awards here.
The winners are:

Citi names new EMEA debt capital markets head.

UK development finance institution appoints new managing director.

Leveraged-finance-focused lawyer joins firm from Simmons & Simmons.

Standard Bank's former head of debt markets to run DCM division.

Russian investment bank names new chief executive.

Multilateral development bank hires former World Bank VP to oversee policy.

Bank names new London-based head of European financial institutions.

Bank hires head of equity capital markets for Poland.