Figures released by the U.S. treasury show the country's budget deficit hit a record $221bn in February - the largest monthly deficit in its history - the total deficit since the beginning of the fiscal year in October now stands at $651.6bn. An interesting backdrop, then, against which to set the EuroFinance International Cash and Treasury Management conference, taking place in Miami from the 5-7 May.

This year's EuroFinance conference on Liquidity and Cash Management for European Companies takes place in Amsterdam, early modern Europe's wealthiest trading cities claiming the world's first full-time stock exchange, and capital of a country which many economic historians regard as the first thoroughly capitalist country in the world. FX&MM reports.

With the eurozone economy officially confirmed as having emerged from recession, FX&MM stops off to visit a reinvigorated and - so it seems - less pessimistic, even bullish France. In doing so, we take a snapshot of the country which suddenly finds itself with a renewed sense of élan, not least because of Michel Barnier...