The book assists the credit analyst to assess the performance and financial condition of today\`s financial institutions and allow the analyst to weed out the good from the bad and justify a lending or counterparty relationship. This is done by providing the credit analyst with the background and tools necessary to assess the quality of financial institutions, notably retail banks, investment banks, insurance companies, finance companies, leasing companies, investment management companies and pension funds. This new edition assessed these financial institutions against the backdrop of a \`new normalcy\` of the current Global economic climate i.e. reduced profitability, greater regulatory surveillance, increased capital requirements.