Bloomberg A recent spike in funding costs is happening at the worst time for Australia’s big banks, as intense public scrutiny crimps their ability to pass on increases to customers. The banks are fighting to defend their reputations in the face of an inquiry into misconduct and mistreatment of customers. Two weeks into hearings in front of a Royal Commission, …

Bloomberg The silence all day spoke volumes about the disarray at the top of Deutsche Bank AG, say insiders and shareholders. No one at the bank — from spokespeople to the highest-ranking executives — commented publicly on a string of media reports and investor speculation that either Chairman Paul Achleitner or Chief Executive Officer John Cryan, or both, was on …

Bloomberg HSBC Holdings Plc froze an account linked to an alleged fraud that siphoned about $500 million from Angolan state coffers, according to a person briefed on the matter. A large transfer raised suspicions at the bank, prompting it to alert UK authorities at least weeks ago, the person said, asking not to be identified discussing confidential information. Britain’s National …