This collection of conference papers presents a contemporary insight into key trends impacting on the global financial sector post crisis and highlights new policy and research areas affecting banks and other financial institutions. The four main themes are: financial crises, credit activity, capital markets and risk management.

FRANCESCA BATTAGLIA University of Napoli Parthenope, ItalyGORAN BERGENDAHL Göteborgs Universitet, SwedenGIANNI BRIGHETTI Università degli Studi di Bologna, ItalyFRANS H. BRINKHUIS INHOLLAND University of Applied Sciences Amsterdam/Diemen, The NetherlandsVINCENZO CAPIZZI Università del Piemonte Orientale, ItalyMASSIMO CARATELLI Universita' Di Roma Tre, ItalyBARBARA CASU Cass Business School, City University London, UKJUAN FERNÁNDEZ DE GUEVARA Universitat de València& Ivie, SpainALESSANDRA FERRARI University of Reading, UKPASQUALE LA GANGA Banca d'Italia, ItalyRENATO GIOVANNINI Università Telematica G. Marconi, ItalyMARIA GRAZIA STARITA University of Napoli Parthenope, ItalyTED LINDBLOM Göteborgs Universitet, SwedenCATERINA LUCARELLI Università Politecnica delle Marche, ItalyJOSÉ MANUEL PASTOR Universitat de València& Ivie, SpainJOAQUÍN MAUDOS Universitat de València& Ivie SpainANTONIO MELES University of Napoli Parthenope, ItalyVALERIO PESIC Università di Roma 'La Sapienza', ItalyGIOVANNI B. PITTALUGA Università di Genova, ItalyFEDERICA POLI Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore Milano, ItalyCLAUDIO PORZIO University of Napoli Parthenope, ItalyJAVIER QUESADA Universitat de València& Ivie, SpainELENA SEGHEZZA Università di Genova, ItalyLORENZO SERRANO Universitat de València& Ivie, SpainERIKA TEORDORA UBERTI Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore Milano, ItalyGIUSEPPE TORLUCCIO Università di Bologna,ItalyMARIO TOSCANO Università di Bologna, ItalyRENE VAN DER LINDEN INHOLLAND University of Applied Sciences Amsterdam/Diemen, The NetherlandsGIANFRANCO A. VENTO Università Telematica G. Marconi, ItalyMAGNUS WILLESSON Växjö University, Sweden TIANSHU ZHAO Stirling University, UK

List of Tables and Figures Introduction; F.Fiordelisi, P.Molyneux& D.Previati PART I: FINANCIAL CRISES China's Macro-Policy and Regulatory Framework of the Financial Sector to be Tested by the Global Economic Downturn; R.W.H.Van Der Linden Financial Turmoil and Asymmetric Information Theory - Evidence from E-MID Platform; C.Porzio, F.Battaglia, A.Meles& M.Grazia Starita The Impact of European Financial Integration on Economic Growth; J.Maudos& J.Fernández De Guevara Can Financial Supervision Enhance Central Bank's Independence?; E.Seghezza& G.B.Pittaluga The Impact of a Housing Price Bubble on the Intensity of the Recent Credit Crunch: Evidence from Different Countries; J.M.Pastor, J.Quesada& L.Serrano Interbank Market and Liquidity Distribution during the Great Financial Crisis: The E-MID Case; G.A.Vento& P.La Ganga Quantitative Easing Versus Credit Easing; F.H.Brinkhuis Financial Reforms, Competition and Risk in Banking Markets; B.Casu, A.Ferrari& Tianshu Zhao PART II: THE LENDING BUSINESS: MARKETS AND INSTRUMENTS The Diffusion of Credit Brokers in Italy - A Spatial Econometric Analysis; F.Poli& E.T.Uberti Determinants and Effects of Venture Capital and Private Equity Investments on Italian SMEs; R.Giovannini, V.Pesic& V.Capizzi Transparency of Price Conditions in the Consumer Credit; M.Caratelli PART III: CAPITAL MARKETS AND RISK MANAGEMENT Profitability of Momentum and Reversal Patterns of Pan-European Industries Portfolio; G.Torluccio& M.Toscano Duration Analysis - An Exposé; T.Lindblom& G.Bergendahl Biased or Unbiased Risk Perception in the Financial Decision Making; C.Lucarelli& G.Brighetti Banks' Measurement of Operational Risk and the Effect on Regulatory Capital; T.Lindblom& M.Willesson Index