Banking

UK banks struggle in toughest stress tests

  Bloomberg The Bank of England added a new, higher bar to its third round of public stress tests. Some of the UK’s biggest banks will scrape through; others may not clear it. The seven major British lenders tested will probably beat the lowest measures of strength required to pass the annual BOE health check when it is released Wednesday, ...

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Indian central bank takes steps to curb rising bank liquidity

  Bloomberg The Reserve Bank of India told lenders to set aside more deposits as reserves to curtail surging banking system liquidity that risks stoking inflation. Banking system funds have surged after Prime Minister Narendra Modi banned 500 rupee ($7.30) and 1,000 rupee notes in a bid to curb graft and ordered people to deposit the money in banks. That ...

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Argentina banks zero in on tax evaders’ $7bn

  Bloomberg One of the biggest priorities for Argentina’s banks will be convincing tax evaders who accepted an amnesty deal and declared $7 billion of cash to keep their money in the country, said BBVA Banco Frances SA Chief Executive Officer Martin Zarich. Argentines can choose to either pay a 10 percent fine, or buy into government bonds and closed-end ...

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Nordic Bank chairman predicts better times

  Bloomberg The chairman of the biggest Nordic bank says Donald Trump’s election win is good news for the US economy, thanks to the real estate mogul’s pledge to deliver tax cuts and deregulation. “Based on the expectation that the American President and Congress are likely to act on taxes, and perhaps on regulation as well, I think there is ...

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Zimbabwe’s bond notes to help ease currency crunch

  Bloomberg Zimbabwe will release dollar-backed bond notes with a daily withdrawal limit of $50 on November 28, the central bank said, as the Southern African nation grapples with a shortage of currency. “The bond notes will be released into the market through normal banking channels in small denominations of $2 and $5 to fund export incentives of 5 percent ...

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Payments company Stripe doubles valuation to $9bn

  Bloomberg Stripe Inc. raised new financing that values the startup at about $9 billion, cementing its status as a major player in the crowded digital payments space and heralding a possible initial public offering. CapitalG, the late-stage investment arm of Alphabet Inc., and venture capital firm General Catalyst Partners led the $150 million round, with participation from existing investors ...

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Goldman raises WTI price forecast

  Bloomberg Goldman Sachs Group Inc. raised its oil-price forecast for early next year, while Russia, Iran and Iraq separately signaled optimism that producer nations will be able to reach a deal to limit output at OPEC’s next meeting on November 30. Goldman is now “tactically bullish” on the likelihood of an OPEC agreement and expects oil prices in New ...

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National Bank of Greece seeks better bids before selling loans

  Bloomberg National Bank of Greece SA, the country’s oldest lender, will only consider selling batches of bad loans to distressed debt managers once country risk recedes and bids improve, Chief Executive Officer Leonidas Fragkiadakis said. “We are actively talking to people. As of now there is no closing-in of agreements I can report,” Fragkiadakis said in the interview from ...

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Australian banks admit to ringgit cartel

  Sydney / AFP Australian banks ANZ and Macquarie agreed to pay Aus$15 million (US$11 million) in fines for trying to manipulate the benchmark rate of the Malaysian ringgit. ANZ admitted to 10 instances of attempted cartel conduct and Macquarie to eight relating to setting the daily rates for derivative instruments linked to Malaysia’s currency in 2011. The Australian Competition ...

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Saudi Hollandi Bank is now ‘Alawwal Bank’

  DUBAI /Reuters Saudi Hollandi Bank said it would change its name to Alawwal Bank as part of a new corporate identity that will be rolled out over the next three months. Alawwal, meaning “The First” in Arabic, references the bank’s status as the first bank to launch in the country in 1926. The name change coincides with Royal Bank ...

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