Banking

Bloomberg The scene: a street in Zurich. The mark: a wealthy Swiss banker. His pursuers: hired goons looking for intel. It sounds like something ripped from John Le Carre. In fact, it’s real-life — and not all that unusual in the world of high finance. News that Credit Suisse Group AG had hired private investigators to tail a star banker …

Bloomberg India’s central bank placed lending restrictions on Lakshmi Vilas Bank Ltd, adding to the company’s troubles after its chief executive officer abruptly quit last month and police registered a case of alleged fraud. Lakshmi Vilas Bank, which is seeking a merger with financier Indiabulls Housing Finance Ltd to reduce its delinquent debt, was informed it would be brought under …

Bloomberg A reduction of Greece’s fiscal targets would support the country’s economic and social recovery, the International Monetary Fund said. In 2020, the IMF recommends that “the government and European partners build consensus around a lower primary balance path, given ample economic slack and critical unmet social spending and investment needs,” according to the fund’s statement after the conclusion of …

Bloomberg Jefferies Financial Group Inc’s earnings took a hit from an unlikely source: WeWork’s dropping valuation. Third-quarter revenue came in below even the lowest analyst expectationas the company’s merchant banking unit wrote down the value of its investment in We Co by $146 million. Net revenue fell slightly to $777 million despite increases in both fixed-income and equities trading, Jefferies …

Bloomberg Behind-the-scenes regulatory requirements imposed on the largest US banks may help explain one mystery spawned by recent turmoil in an obscure, but important, slice of the multitrillion-dollar money market. Dealers and policy makers alike have wondered why big banks didn’t step in as rates on overnight repurchase agreements soared to record highs. Those banks have about $1.4 trillion deposited …

Bloomberg Wells Fargo & Co named Charlie Scharf chief executive officer, marking a new era in the bank’s efforts to turn itself around after a series of scandals claimed two previous CEOs in the past three years. Scharf, the CEO of Bank of New York (BNY) Mellon Corp, will replace interim chief Allen Parker on October 21, capping a wide-ranging …

Bloomberg Europe’s widening money laundering scandals took a new turn as ABN Amro Bank NV disclosed a criminal probe over alleged failures to check on clients and report suspicious transactions, a further sign of woe in an industry already struggling to grow profitability. Shares of the state-controlled bank slumped the most since its 2015 initial public offering and its bonds …

Bloomberg The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) started an open-ended fund for central bank investments in green bonds, it said in a statement. The institution, which is often referred to as the central bankers’ central bank, said the fund comes in response to growing demand for climate-friendly investments. It should also help institutions incorporate sustainability objectives into the management of …

Bloomberg Christine Lagarde didn’t immediately jump at the chance of succeeding Mario Draghi as president of the European Central Bank — but needed some convincing. That’s what the former chief of the International Monetary Fund revealed to Francine Lacqua in New York this week, in a Bloomberg Television interview that also offered insights into her likely management style, and even …

Bloomberg Banco Santander SA will take a 1.5 billion-euro ($1.7 billion) charge over its UK business, which has struggled to boost profit amid stricter regulations and a competitive mortgage market. The impairment will be included in third-quarter results, the Spanish lender said. It won’t affect the bank’s cash flow or tier 1 capital ratio, a key measure of financial strength. …