By Lee Su Shyan, Assistant Money Editor

TYCOON Oei Hong Leong's staggering $1 billion loss has focused attention on the private banking industry, whose spectacular rate of growth has been hobbled by the global financial crisis.

Investors are keenly awaiting the result of what could become a landmark case brought against Citigroup by Mr Oei, who is alleging negligence and misrepresentation in the handling of his investments in foreign currency and US Treasury bonds.

Many investors have been burnt in recent months, with the meltdown of stock markets allied to volatility in foreign currency markets.

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