Prospects depend on western support

Article forms the lead and overview article in a FT: Special Report 'Central & Eastern Europe Banking & Finance 2012'. The region relies on older members of the EU to buy its exports and provide capital, says Neil Buckley.

Other features comprise:

+ Banking: Poles, Czechs and Slovaks form regional super-sector
The three core countries have profitable and well-capitalised institutions, writes Jan Cienski

+ Financial centres: Vienna and Warsaw vie for pre-eminence
Other capitals have tried to compete but have proved too small and poorly regulated, writes Jan Cienski

+ Russia: State-run ‘elephants’ are developing agility
VTB and Sberbank have become much more client-friendly and their access to funding is vastly superior to private competitors, writes Courtney Weaver

+ Business education: MBAs evolve from exotic flower status
A homegrown sector has emerged, says Kester Eddy

+ Real estate: Economic fears curtail market resurgence
Rents in euros have made investment in retail property more popular, says Jan Cienski

+ Financial support: Tough battle to keep cash flowing in
Vienna Initiative prevented a ‘rush to the exit’, writes Neil Buckley

+ Hungary: Institutions complain of ‘brutal’ treatment
The economic crisis coupled with policies of the centre-right government have had a severe impact, says Kester Eddy

+ Regional investors: Private equity now focuses on safety of Polish havens
Broader interest is in commercial property, says Jan Cienski