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Years ago, the motivational guru Tony Robbins came to visit my office, searching for the attributes of successful options trading. I was nervous about making a good impression. After all, he was the expert on success who wrote the book on getting the edge. What advice could I possibly offer? During the interview, it occurred to us both that the “secret sauce” of trading is similar to the required attributes of any profitable business. It must have a definable and consistent “edge”, it must be hard for others to harvest (even if the basic business concept is easy) and it requires relentless discipline.

Turkey has endured a year of turmoil since the Gezi Park protests and a prolonged emerging market sell-off derailed its economic boom. But even as protesters and police mark the anniversary with another splash of tear gas, Halkbank’s result last week shows Turkey’s banks have a prime opportunity to return to the bond market and underscore the country’s strong recovery. Banks thinking of waiting for the third quarter might do well to come now.

I’m no fashionista, but even I wouldn't leave the house wearing mismatched shoes. However, one unfortunate chap did manage to pull off this remarkable feat at the Asia Pacific Loan Market Association gathering in Macau on Wednesday.

One of Europe’s leading private equity firms is on a winning streak. In just over a year, three of Cinven’s most hazardous investments have yielded mammoth returns. But with the sale of its best assets completed, the fund will have to renew itself – or risk lagging behind.

Investors have been scrambling to get their hands on a piece of India after the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) landslide victory in the recent elections brought the country’s moribund economy much closer to a new lease of life. But investors would be prudent to take one step back from the Modi-mania and not lose sight of fundamentals - and downside risk.

The European Central Bank moved its deposit rate into negative territory on Thursday. Such a move is unlikely to boost lending to the real economy, and could come with unintended consequences for the money markets.

The Conservatives have joined Labour and the Liberal Democrats in promising to boost the Scottish government’s tax-raising powers if voters decide to stay in the UK at September’s independence referendum. But the major three parties should go one step further and add serious debt raising powers to the deal — rather than the piddling £2.2bn offered so far.

Central and Eastern Europe has benefited from a rally over the last few months, as funds have rotated out of Russia and into that region. But with tensions seemingly subsiding in eastern Ukraine and bankers eagerly expecting a return of Russian bond issues before the end of the year, the flows may start to reverse. The revival of Russian business could come at the expense of appetite for the CEE.

Turkey has endured a year of turmoil since the Gezi Park protests and a prolonged emerging market sell-off derailed its economic boom. But even as protesters and police mark the anniversary with another splash of teargas, Halkbank’s result last week shows Turkey’s banks have a prime opportunity to return to the bond market and underscore the country’s strong recovery. Banks thinking of waiting for the third quarter might do well to come now.

Casinos (and wine) may be all the rage these days in the City-state, but its IPO market appears to be drowning in its Singapore Sling.

Back in the day the out of town conference was always code for a few days of drinking, golfing and catching up with that pretty blonde from a rival bank all in the name of sharing ideas and best practice.

Dubai should push on with its plan to create a central Shariah board. Although the emirate has made good progress in striving to become the self-styled “centre for the Islamic economy”, the time is ripe for a breakthrough that would create a lasting legacy.