Michelle Celarier NatWest Markets Messy divorce in Hong Kong NatWest does not have a very illustrious history in Hong Kong. The saga of its ill-fated joint venture there, Wheelock NatWest, has left a sour taste in the mouths of its partner, Wheelock, and its former employees. Somehow, Thailand's civil servants have averted another Mexico-style crash. It's still too early to hope for a big comeback, however. The currency needs to be floated first.
Japanese banks continue to post losses.
Rebecca Dobson Derivatives Swinging around the world Credit derivatives have come from nowhere over the past year to become the hot new derivative product. But other instruments are also capturing the imagination of increasingly sophisticated corporate treasurers, from the US to Australia and Japan. A lot of European family-owned companies have now reached the third generation of owners. They want money, and European investors want equity. Euromoney profiles the probables.