Positive reasons for investing in Turkish sovereign debt are becoming more difficult to find these days. However, yields are on the increase and years of fiscal discipline have greatly reduced the risk of default, writes Bernard Kennedy.

The securitisation market is going through the biggest crisis of its existence, a crisis that potentially even threatens its existence. Heads of state including UK prime minister Gordon Brown are blaming securitisation for the present global financial crisis and demanding that securitised assets are brought back on balance sheet. Will the market survive, and in what form? How has the crisis affected emerging markets like Russia or the Gulf, where securitisation is just beginning to take off? emeafinance gathered some of the top bankers in the market together to discuss what is happening, and where to go from here.

The proliferation of legacy systems at CEE banks has proved a major challenge for many western banks that have made acquisitions in the region. But there are a number of different strategies that they can pursue to ensure IT savings, the exploitation of synergies, and a more efficient IT infrastructure, writes Liz Salecka. 

The ECB recently announced the launch of its Target-2 Securities project, which will see the creation of a new centralised platform for the settlement of securities against euro cash.  But the initiative continues to see voiced concerns from central securities depositories (CSDs) as well as industry bodies representing banks, issuers and investors, writes  Liz Salecka.