The indicators on credit risk are showing clear signs of improvement. The NPL ratio for the whole of the banking system fell to 11.0% in June (vs 12.5% in December 2014), the lowest level since April 2013.
UBS | The earnings season is right around the corner. We have seen pricing and utilization pressure begin again due to the continued weakness in oil prices and the U.S . rig count. The oil service industry will still remain structurally challenged throughout 2016 and into 2017.
The direct impact of the global slowdown in Spain is being offset by the positive indirect effects on private consumption. High GDP growth rates will be maintained in 2015 and 2016, but these will moderate progressively, with economic growth seen falling to 2.8% from 3.1% in 2015 as reported by Bank of Spain last week.
Yue Yue and Zhang Yuzhe via Caixin | Chinese investors have warmly welcomed a surge in corporate bond issues as attractive alternatives to the nation’s stock markets, where values have plunged in recent months.
Jens Bastian via Macropolis | The 49 prior and pending actions that have to be adopted by the Greek government by mid-October in order for urgently needed financial assistance to be released are a work in progress taking place under severe time constraints.
Based on our latest in-house banking survey, sentiment towards the banking sector has deteriorated further over the past quarter. The decline in expectations on the banking outlook reflected rising global growth concerns, uncertainty over Fed funds rates, as well as volatility in commodity prices and currencies.
The European Commission estimates Spain’s budget deficit will be 4.5% of gross domestic product in 2015 instead of the required 4.2%. The discrepancy will widen in 2016, with an estimated deficit then of 3.5% of GDP compared with the 2.8% target.
Tao Jingzhou via Caixin | The government must act to clean up a scourge that hurts the public interest yet sees few people ever punished.
Nicolas Veron | In mid-July 2014, in his maiden policy speech at the European Parliament as president-elect of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker promised to create a European “Capital Markets Union.” As he explained it: “To improve the financing of our economy, we should further develop and integrate capital markets.
Fernando Barciela | Madrid leftwing Mayor Manuela Carmena (Ahora Madrid) upset the markets and the media last week with her decision to fire credit rating agencies Standard & Poor’s (S&P) and Fitch, effective from 2016.