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There are various plans being considered to fix Europe’s sovereign finances. But before any of them get a chance to succeed, the politicians in charge of putting them in place need to learn the importance of thinking before they speak.

Failed IPOs are piling up in 2010. The easy excuse is Greece and Ireland. A more nuanced response would include lengthy timetables; the “wrong” issuer candidates; and ever-larger syndicates driven by balance sheet banks angling for ancillary business. But let’s not forget about fees: after all, it’s usually the incentives — or lack of them — that count.

A deadly exchange of fire between North and South Korea on Tuesday triggered a sell-off in Asian markets as short-term risk aversion soared across the region.

Paul Calello liked few things better than a good sing-along. Whether it was a karaoke party in Hong Kong or one of his annual jamming sessions with friends at his country retreat at Beaverkill, New York State, there he would be, with his guitar more often than not, the life and soul. An ever-gracious host, if you had a good time, he had a good time.

China has a rare shot at a “win-win” deal: to trade an appreciation of its currency for something it wants from the US, argues Charles Dumas at Lombard Street Research. The Seoul G20 would be the natural place to cut that deal

A court in New York was right to dismiss Terra Firma’s lawsuit against Citi last week. The private equity firm only has itself to blame for the mess it is in with EMI. But the bank suffered too, and those tempted to support aggressive LBOs now should remember that.

The global crisis has not derailed business reforms in developing economies, with east Asia and the Pacific leading the push this year, according to the World Bank’s flagship “Doing Business” report for 2011

The Hong Kong-based brokerage has been voted top for equity research & sales in Asia’s largest Brokers Poll, while Macquarie takes the top spot in Australia and Nomura leads the rankings in Japan

China has moved to raise interest rates for the first time in three years in a bid to cool its overheating economy. But further tightening is far from assured

In a wide-ranging interview, India’s finance minister Pranab Mukherjee discusses the challenge of maintaining balanced growth in Asia’s emerging giant. Read the full transcript

The US and Europe face the prospect of a long and painful period of economic recovery – similar to Japan’s decade long stagnation in the 1990s - in the wake of the global crisis, BOJ governor Masaaki Shirakawa has said