Bloomberg The European Central Bank is expecting to plow at least 160 billion euros ($185 billion) of maturing debt back into bonds next year and could consider relaxing the rules on buying, according to euro-area officials familiar with the matter. Such prospects would reduce the risk of market volatility that could undermine the economy after the ECB completes net asset ...
Read More »Banking
China to unleash $108bn in reserves cut for banks
Bloomberg China’s central bank will cut the amount of cash some lenders must hold as reserves, unlocking about 700 billion yuan ($108 billion) of liquidity, as it seeks to control leverage and support smaller companies. The required reserve ratio for some banks will drop by 0.5 percentage point, effective July 5, the People’s Bank of China said on its website. ...
Read More »BMO Harris Bank revamps digital operations in US
Bloomberg Bank of Montreal is revamping its US digital operation and targeting small businesses in the Midwest to boost growth at its BMO Harris Bank lender. The new US strategy, which emphasises mobile apps to woo more retail customers, is part of the changes being introduced by Erminia “Ernie†Johannson, who relocated to Chicago from Toronto after being appointed group ...
Read More »Wall Street clears first stress test hurdle with ample capital
Bloomberg Big banks cleared the first hurdle of this year’s US stress tests as the Federal Reserve found all 35 lenders examined could withstand a severe economic downturn, though Goldman Sachs Group Inc. trailed the rest of Wall Street in a key measure of leverage. The results announced mark the third straight year every bank exceeded the Fed’s minimum capital ...
Read More »Paschi trial: Deutsche Bank defendant defies prosecutors
Bloomberg An ex-Deutsche Bank AG banker told a Milan court that the controversial Santorini transaction signed with Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena SpA was a risky deal for the German bank and was properly accounted for by the Italian lender, challenging the prosecution’s case. Marco Veroni, the first Deutsche Bank defendant questioned by prosecutors at the Milan trial, disputed ...
Read More »Carney’s crisis powers beefed up to give BOE $1trn arsenal
Bloomberg Mark Carney’s Bank of England has new powers that allow it to raise a war chest of more than 750 billion pounds ($1 trillion) — without permission or protection from the government. Under a new financial framework, the bank could unilaterally lend more than that amount if it needs to step into action to keep the banking system — ...
Read More »Mexico raises key interest rate to 7.75%
Bloomberg Mexico increased borrowing costs for the second time this year as higher US interest rates, global trade tensions and the July 1 presidential election have battered the country’s peso, posing a risk to inflation. The currency strengthened on the decision. Policy makers, led by bank Governor Alejandro Diaz de Leon raised the key interest rate a quarter-point to 7.75 ...
Read More »India plans sale of IDBI Bank stake to top insurer
Bloomberg India’s government is likely to sell a part of its stake in IDBI Bank Ltd. as early as next month and potential buyers include the country’s top insurer, said people familiar with the matter. Potential investors would include Life Insurance Corporation, the people said, asking not to be identified as the information isn’t public. The sale would lower the ...
Read More »Banks in EU win battle to soften new crisis rules
Bloomberg Banks in the European Union won a battle to soften new rules on how failing firms are restructured, as the bloc’s parliament staked out its position on a sweeping overhaul of rules for the financial industry. Lawmakers backed a cap on the loss-absorbing liabilities that regulator can force troubled banks to hold. The ceiling could help to hold down ...
Read More »Norway firming up plans for first interest rate hike in 7 years
Bloomberg Norway’s central bank is seen firming up plans to lift interest rates “after summer†as the richest Scandinavians leave their oil shock behind them. As Norway moves from a recovery to an outright expansion, policy makers in Oslo are becoming less focussed on the krone and are preparing to tighten ahead of colleagues in Frankfurt and Stockholm. “Norges Bank ...
Read More »