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...

Dipak Patel, head of Global Transactional Products and Services, Standard Bank, says the global financial crisis has forced banks the world over to concentrate on their core business. Ironically, this has worked in Africa's favour...