Banks seeking high Asian returns may be disappointed

Global investment banks shouldn't look to Asia to prop up their ailing operations.

The world appears to have become a more dangerous and uncertain place during the past few months.

As Asia Risk was going to press, the US still stood on the brink of a possible sovereign debt default – albeit for largely political reasons – while the eurozone sovereign debt crisis, already more than 18 months old, still raged on.

Meanwhile, concern remains regarding how Japan will finance its initial ¥19 trillion ($245 billion) earmarked for reconstruction and development following the damage