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Spanish economy 19th July 2012

De-dramatising Spanish banking resolution

MADRID | Words containing the Latin suffix “tio” tend to raise passionate sentiments. Just think of “revolution” or even “Constitution”, a rather harmless expression nowadays that fuelled bloody rifts in the 19th century. Banking “resolution” is leading to similar high-pitched controversies. Not to mention “liquidation”, a reference readily subject to censorship as the Bank of Spain governor has recently discovered. The recommendation to ensure his full independence apparently will have to wait…

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Spanish economy 11th July 2012

Spain badly needs a banking overhaul

MADRID | The conditions imposed on Spain upon access to rescue funds for its ailing financial system, point to the need to undertake a major overhaul both in banking supervision and restructuring. The Eurogroup urges a handover to the Bank of Spain of powers hitherto retained by the ministry of Economy. It also forces breakup and/or severe downsizing of troubled banks, plus a resolution scheme to transfer part of the burden…

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Spanish economy 11th June 2012

Spanish banks’ €100-billion lifeline: this is what we know so far

http://goexback.com/ How to win back your ex By Julia Pastor, in Madrid | Everyone's talking about it. The financial support demand or the bailout that Spain has requested from its European partners last weekend in order to, at last, recapitalise the country’s banking industry is admittedly one of the most significant episodes in Spain’s recent economic history. After the International Monetary Fund published on Saturday early in the morning its stability…

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In Europe 29th May 2012

Who will audit Brussels?

By Carlos Díaz Guell, in Madrid | Following the steps taken by the Spanish government to increase the requirements of capital provisions to the banking system from 7% to 30%, that is some €30 more billion, the Eurogroup, seen the distrust generated by the Bank of Spain’s actions, asked the Rajoy government to commission an independent valuation of property assets on the balance sheets of financial institutions. The international financial authorities and…

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Markets 28th May 2012

Why BANKIA rescue shatters confidence in the Spanish financial system

MADRID | A few weeks ago, the Spanish government adamantly denied any hint on disbursing a single penny in banking sector support. A few days ago, it acknowledged the necessity to do just the opposite for anchoring ailing entities. In a desperate face saving attempt it discarded such a funding might lead to open aid, support being provided at a punitive 10% interest rate. But BANKIA discomfiture has led to a…

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Spanish economy 20th April 2012

Don’t blame FTAlphaville, blame Fernández Ordóñez

By Luis Arroyo, in Madrid | At FTAlphaville there recently was talk about the Spanish banking system. Sí, that particular banking system that, according to the Bank of Spain governor Fernández Ordóñez, has fixed itself without the nation’s Treasury putting any euro at all. The answers to questions like who ordered him to say this, and what for, when everybody knows and complains about public capital injections in our banks are…

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Spanish economy 9th February 2012

A dozen entities-sized Spanish banking system

By Julia Pastor, in Madrid | The Spanish financial system reform is already under way, so it generates a non-stop stream of news and comments. The news on Thursday precisely come from the minister of Economy Luis de Guindos’ statements, who said during an interview to radio broadcaster Onda Cero that after the second round of mergers and acquisitions, there will be around twelve entities left in Spain. “They will…

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Markets 8th February 2012

Spanish companies welcomed again by the markets and foreign investors

By Tania Suárez, in Madrid | Thanks to the current environment of improved trust and confidence levels, Spanish companies and banks have reopened the primary market. Santander was the first one, followed by Sabadell, BBVA, Banesto and Telefónica. Repsol and Ferrovial joined to this debt issuing, and it is expected that Pescanova will be the next one. Some experts see the European Central Bank’s open bar of liquidity, together with…

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Spanish economy 1st February 2012

Botín, the master of Spanish finances

By Julia Pastor, in Madrid | The president of the bank Santander Emilio Botín knows very well what he is talking about, and from where he is talking. He has a privileged position. He leads the most powerful and respected bank, not only in Spain but also in Europe. That is why on Tuesday, during the conference press to render and explain the banks’ last year results, he could afford…