Stock markets have had a good start to 2009 with widespread gains, but the economic problems remain, Norman Chan from PCM Capital told CNBC Tuesday. Christian Blaabjerg from Saxo Bank joined the discussion.

Iceland was the biggest emerging market causality of 2008, but could another country run into similar problems in 2009? Arnab Das from Dresdner Kleinwort considers the outlook.

UK retailers Debenhams and Next saw sales drop over the Christmas season. Stephen Robertson from British Retail Consortium discusses the poor sales results and the outlook for the sector in '09 as more struggling retailers go into administration.

Iceland was the biggest emerging market causality of 2008, but could another country run into similar problems in 2009? Arnab Das from Dresdner Kleinwort considers the outlook.

The private equity industry has been through a tough year in 2008 as the availability of credit has all but dried up. Patrick Dunne, director of 3i, spoke to CNBC about the outlook.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is under pressure at home and abroad to do more to lift Germany out of recession. Charles Dumas from Lombard Street Research has more.