BARCELONA, March 16 - The world\'s top banking regulator is highly satisfied with the progress of work on the treatment of double default and trading book exposures under the complex Basel II upgrade of international bank safety rules.

By the end of 2006, supervisors across the European Union will have to disclose how they are applying and policing the new capital adequacy rules for banks, according to proposed guidelines published on Wednesday.

Bankers face unprecedented volume of regulation. Proposal to establish wise men\'s group to provide a new way forward By Melvyn Westlake

Operational risk managers fear key directives may clash. EU securities and banking bodies make hurried cross-checks

Australia is not a member of the Basel club. But it is a leader on Basel II in Asia-Pacific. Meeting its 2008 implementation deadline will still be a tough task . David Keefe reports

Australian banking supervisors are using national discretion to propose that banks and other deposit-taking firms hold more capital than suggested by the Basel II capital rules to guard against `other retail\' exposures.

Directors and senior management of an Australian bank or general insurer must regard business continuity risks and controls as part of the firm\'s overall risk management report to regulators.

Plans for a speedy adoption of Basel II by Indian banks has caused some surprise. But its implementation will be cautious

Practical issues loom large as Basel II implementation takes centre stage. Impact study and benchmarking might hold answers By Melvyn Westlake

Draft law for insurers won\'t be ready until next year. But many regulators say need to bolster insurer solvency remains urgent. David Keefe reports