In This Issue:

2006 Fire Dog Year Shines Brightly For Asian Banks: A confluence of favorable environmental and operational factors indicate that the outlook for Asian banks remains bright going into 2006-year of the Fire Dog in the Chinese lunar calendar. Nevertheless, bank management teams still need to sink their teeth into outstanding issues to prepare for unexpected shocks and the inevitable future cyclical downturn. Still-strong (albeit slowing) regional GDP growth, improving asset quality, stable and increasingly diverse earnings, and increased management emphasis on risk controls support the banks' improved credit profiles.

Asia-Pacific Banks Set To Turn Expectations Into Reality In 2006

Financial Hubs And Korea's Comparative Advantage

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