Albanians, Harry Potter and News Corpse: A-Z of 2011

Investec manager Max King presents an A-Z of the major themes that have shaped the investment world throughout 2011.

Albanians "Even the Albanians are leaving" wailed one Athenian in despair at the descent of Greece's capital into chaos and depression, thereby coining a new metaphor for "rats leaving a sinking ship." Greek tourism, however, benefited from holidaymakers avoiding North Africa and from measures taken to help the industry, with early season arrivals up 10%. Banks European bank Dexia was rescued by the French, Belgian and Luxembourg governments just three months after it passed the EU stress tests with flying colours. With banks throughout the euro-zone weighed down with the sovereign and...