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The US Congress has failed to pass new bankruptcy rules, but the experiment continues. Martin Bienenstock of Weil, Gotshal & Manges in New York says likely reforms will be unwelcome to creditors even if that is not their aim

The European Prospectus Directive will create one set of rules for listings in all EU markets. The regulations will also lead to bland documentation and could stop smaller companies listing in the EU, says Clifford Dammers of the International Primary Market Association

No two leading firms in France can agree whether obstructive local usury laws apply to deals done overseas. Eric Cafritz and Omer Tene of Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson explain why legislation must be updated

Attempts by Korea's financial regulators to stop consumer credit from overheating look likely to open the way for international residential mortgage-backed securitizations.

A deal in Malaysia believed to be the world's first securitization of new loans has been structured using international techniques in a bid to encourage similar transactions in the future.

The departure of Harvey Pitt leaves the SEC without a leader at a time when it needs firm direction. Ben Maiden reports from New York on the race to become the next chairman of the Commission

The latest announcements from the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision have left securitization banks cold. Rob Mannix reports

The success of New Zealand's export credit scheme, launched in July 2001, has so far been limited. In the year to July 2002, the Export Credit Office (ECO) received inquiries for support for 18 transactions, for exports valued at about NZ$550 million ($274 million). Despite the interest in the scheme, as yet, no applications have been successful, though several are still being processed and some have been re-submitted for approval. Some critics have suggested that the lack of approved transactions is because the parameters of the scheme have been too rigid and limited. However, a recently completed 12-month review of the scheme seeks to address any such problems and proposes far-reaching improvements. It is hoped that the revamped scheme, which widens the pool of eligible transactions and the level of cover provided, will give the ECO more flexibility and that, as a result, it will be easier for exporters to meet the necessary criteria to have an application for export credit insurance approved.

The main purpose of the Chukan Hojin Law, which took effect on April 1 2002, is to allow certain non-profit organizations to become separate legal entities. Any organization, the members of which share a common interest, whether it is for profit or not, so long as it does not distribute dividends to its members, is entitled to apply for chukan hojin status.

Recent cases reflect the stringent approach taken by the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) to upholding the Securities (Disclosure of Interests) Ordinance (SDIO). The Commission successfully prosecuted relevant parties under SDIO in three different actions within the past two months.