The EBA published yesterday the results of its regular health checks on banking, focused on the capital, leverage, liquidity and net stable ratios at the close of 2014. On average results fall comfortably inside the stringent Basel III requirements.
And it will have consequences for the Spanish banking sector’s solvency.
July 1, 2015 | BNP | While Grexit is the market concern of the moment, disintermediation and securitisation will be important to monitor for the future.
LONDON | By Sigrún Davídsdóttir | Why do the inhabitants of an EU country prefer to keep cash amounting to ca. 6% of GDP hidden at home? Badly burnt after the banking collapse in March 2013 Cypriots neither trust their government nor banks to keep their money safe.
MADRID | The Corner | Financial entities need to submit allegations on the European Central Bank’s solvency ratios recommendations next week. As expected, due to their systemic nature the ECB is asking the biggest lenders (Santander and BBVA) a 9.0% ratio versus the 8.0% required for their smaller peers such as Caixabank, Bankia and Sabadell.
MADRID | The Corner | As expected, the impact of the ECB’s second TLTRO, aimed at spurring credit to SMEs, was smaller than expected. Eurozone banks asked for €129.8 billion ($161.29 billion) in four-year loans, more than the nearly €83 billion provided in the previous offer in mid-September, but below the €150 billion expected by market watchers. Some believe this will increase pressure on Frankfurt to launch broadened QE on 22 January, the scheduled date for the next ECB meeting.
MADRID | By Álex García.
MADRID | By JP Marín Arrese | Central banks all over Europe bombastically hailed the stress tests results as solid evidence the banking system enjoyed enviable health. Their diagnosis utterly failed to impress the markets. Ten days later, financials are plunging to fresh lows as low growth rates signify dire prospects ahead. Investors feel increasingly uneasy faced with dwarfish interest rates and dwindling intermediary receipts, leading to chronic underperformance and under-sized profits. Many fear that an inability to raise their own funds to plug gaps in their balance sheets might weigh on mounting impairment, sending shivers down the spine. Banks may face rough times ahead should deflationary bouts keep the European economy close to stagnation.
MADRID | By Álex García.
MADRID | The Corner | The ECB’s comprehensive assessment showed positive results, yet not sufficiently positive for banks to increase risk and lending. So no, stress tests were not a clearing event and we are not entering a new era as some have said. Which makes it harder for policy makers to rely on bankers for economic growth. This scenario “will likely add to pressures for greater structural reform in Europe,” analysts at Barclays believe.