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The UK's equity market showed the first sign of returning health last month as the biggest initial public offering (IPO) launched in London since July 2001. Things are looking so good that a technology company is planning to list in June – the first technology IPO for over a year.

Linklaters is working on a euro 8.5 billion ($7.4 billion) takeover that could change the balance of power in the UK's energy sector.

"There has been something of a cultural change, with Japan being more welcoming of foreign investment"

Clifford Chance will boost the Japanese-law capacity of its Tokyo office when five lawyers join the UK firm's joint venture partner. The lawyers will join the Clifford Chance joint venture firm — Tanaka & Akita — from Nakagawa & Takashina, bringing the number of bengoshi in the joint venture to 17.

Shearman & Sterling is to launch a commercial arbitration practice from its Singapore office to focus on the Asian market. Paris-based arbitration partner John Savage, who will head-up the new team, arrived in Singapore last week month packing up his desk in Europe. Savage will work with two Singapore-qualified junior lawyers initially, but is already looking to boost his team by appointing two senior associates specialized in construction arbitration.

The International Accounting Standards Board is examining a compromise over rules to make companies account for stock options on their balance sheets. At a meeting in Tokyo last month, the board considered US-style rules to allow companies to choose between including options in their profit and loss accounts or adding a note to the accounts dealing with them. The Board has previously suggested requiring companies to disclose share options fully.

With Euronext at the forefront of integration in European financial services, Thomas Williams talks to the exchange’s top lawyer about self-regulation and the ten best law firms in Europe

Amendments have been made to the Helsinki Exchanges regulations to allow block trading. These amendments took effect on February 25 2002. The reasons for the change include the desire to minimize the possibility of the manipulation of stock trading prices and to clarify the existing trading rules on the matter. It is hoped that the clarity these changes bring will encourage more block trading activity.

The Agreement on the Swiss banks' code of conduct with regard to the exercise of due diligence (CDB) is a multilateral agreement. Under its framework, banks located in Switzerland have agreed with the Swiss Bankers Association to verify the identity of their contracting partners and, should there be any doubt, obtain from them a declaration of beneficial ownership with respect to the deposited assets. They have also agreed to refrain from providing any active assistance in the flight of capital or in tax evasion.

On February 21 2002 ISVAP (the Italian supervisory authority on private insurance) issued Circular No 474 D, which sets out new provisions on unit-linked life insurance policies. Unit-linked policies are those policies the performances of which are connected to shares of funds that may be either internal to the insurance company or external.