The amount of government debt registered in the banks’ portfolios fell to 129.684 billion euros in August, over 5 billion euros below July levels. And it’s the lowest amount of public debt in their portfolios since July 2015.
Francisco López | Lately, the Spanish banks are receiving a huge amount of buy recommendations from analysts. Some experts are asking whether there are some sound reasons to bet on banking stocks now, apart from the fact that the majority of their share prices are attractive.
The banking sector has more than one reason to complain about the ECB’s latest moves. In addition to the fact that zero interest rates are burying their margins, their lending business is now suffering the damaging effects of the central bank’s corporate sector purchase programme. This new measure has meant that many big companies are substituting bank financing with bond issues.
F. Barciela / F.G. Ljubetic |The news that a UK bank and a German lender are going to start charging clients for their deposits has raised the question of whether Spanish banks are thinking of doing the same. For the time being this deposits’ charge will generally apply to very specific segments of client business. The continued decline in margins at the Spanish banks is worrying; a consequence of the fact that interest rates on loans are increasingly lower while the remuneration costs on liabilities are maintained. In the end, the Spanish banks may not have any option but to bite the bullet…and charge for deposits.
José Luis M. Campuzano (Spanish Banking Association) | Spanish lenders’ bad loans fell 18.2% to 118.159 billion euros in June from a year earlier, registering their lowest level since 2010, according to the Bank of Spain.
Norbolsa | CaixaBank posted overall solid figures in the first half to 2016, particularly with regard to its net interest margin.
Norbolsa | Bankia’s (BKIA) interest margin fell more than expected in the first half of 2016, but the lender’s ability to lower provisions and costs offset this to some extent.
Norbolsa | After a disappointing first quarter performance, BBVA’s second quarter 2016 results beat estimates, showing a good performance across the board.
Norbolsa | The change in trend in lending has been the most positive element in the Spanish banks’ first half 2016 results.
Fernando Fernández is a member of the board at Bankia and Red Eléctrica. Apart from the challenges presented by the macroeconomic environment and the technology revolution, he believes that Spain’s banks have to establish a new kind of relationship with their clients and consolidate the sector’s new size.