ECB

Central banks’ gold fever is anything but reckless

5 February 2019

Their 2018 purchases of the yellow metal were the second-highest on record and up nearly three-quarters from a year ago. But this isn’t a speculative punt on prices rising. Instead, it’s a logical precaution against rival currencies and U.S. self-harm eroding dollar dominance.

Italian banks have a 38 bln euro problem

15 January 2019

The European Central Bank has told euro zone lenders to deal with dud loans by a set date. For state-owned Monte dei Paschi, the deadline is 2026. If applied broadly that demand – and a slowing economy – would hinder Italian banks’ ability to deliver decent medium-term returns.

Germany may outdo Italy as a bank bail-in wrecker

9 January 2019

NordLB needs at least 1.2 billion euros to help provision dud loans after merger talks with rivals failed. Along with smaller Italian peer Carige, the regional German lender is a prime candidate for resolution. Politics means a mix of private equity and public funds is a likelier solution.

Italy’s radicals bow to bank bailout temptation

8 January 2019

The government has passed measures to prop up Banca Carige, despite pledges by some of its members not to rescue lenders. Carige is too small to undermine Italy’s financial sector. But even supposedly anti-establishment parties won’t stomach the political cost of a bank failure.

European banks stuck in bond market prison

13 December 2018

Lenders may need to raise over 500 bln euros of loss-absorbing capital when investors are fretting over weak growth, rising rates, and geopolitical tensions. Borrowing costs are rising, and even strong banks are scrapping deals. To avert a crunch, the ECB may have to step in.

Europe’s next bank cop faces fight on many fronts

3 September 2018

Daniele Nouy steps down as chair of the European Central Bank’s banking watchdog this year. Her successor will have to keep cleaning up bad debts and improving money-laundering controls. The bigger challenge, though, is addressing lenders’ chronic lack of profitability.

Italy’s bond fix idea resembles covert bailout

21 August 2018

The economic spokesman of the ruling League Party says the euro will collapse unless the European Central Bank limits the gap between euro zone countries’ bond yields to 150 basis points. That bar is too low and would give big spenders free rein to dodge hard budget decisions.

ECB asset check puts investment banks on the spot

12 July 2018

The European Central Bank is probing how lenders including Deutsche Bank, BNP Paribas and Société Générale value illiquid holdings. Like bad debts, regulators want to improve comparability. For the three banks, the result could be higher capital charges on 44 bln euros of assets.

Mario Draghi may help more in Rome than Frankfurt

31 May 2018

Turmoil in his native Italy threatens the European Central Bank chief’s biggest triumph: saving the single currency. A eurosceptic government would weaken his promise to do “whatever it takes”. He might have more success challenging opponents of the euro as a domestic politician.

Italian radical agenda is a recipe for chaos

16 May 2018

A leaked plan by likely coalition allies 5-Star Movement and League says states should be able to exit the euro zone and cancel debt. That, along with a soaring budget and proposals for a shadow government, promise conflict with the EU. Bond markets are too complacent on Italy.

Illicit money is Europe bank stability blind spot

22 March 2018

U.S. authorities arrested the head of a Maltese bank for violating Iran sanctions, prompting calls for it to lose its licence. Similar issues triggered the recent folding of a Latvian bank. Without power to fight financial misconduct, euro zone regulators can’t keep banks safe.

Mario Draghi faces tricky exit from bond buying

8 March 2018

The European Central Bank president has started laying the groundwork to end three years of asset purchases. But there’s a growing danger that his careful preparations will be thrown off course by U.S. protectionism, euro zone politics, or unwelcome market moves.

Euro zone reform faces green and red lights

5 March 2018

Germany’s new ruling coalition has cleared the way for reforms to strengthen the single currency area. Yet proposals to backstop banks and governments remain contentious. Italy’s new government adds uncertainty. With the ECB’s firepower waning, delay may prove costly.

Spain’s ECB victory is really a win for Germany

19 February 2018

The only person left in the race to become European Central Bank vice president is Spanish Finance Minister Luis de Guindos. It’s thus likely that the top job will go to a northern European in 2019. That will please Germans keen for an end to unorthodox monetary policies.

Mario Draghi is ill-equipped for currency wars

25 January 2018

The European Central Bank chief took a potshot at the United States for flouting an international agreement not to manipulate currencies. The rate-setter has limited policy room to resist a strong euro. European politicians who take up the cudgels risk escalating the fight.

Corporate loans can propel Europe’s bank recovery

15 January 2018

Lending to companies has seen minimal growth in recent years, official data shows. A raft of positive economic data should provide the catalyst for increased demand. It would be a welcome way for slimmed-down lenders to give revenue a leg-up.

Markets start doing Mario Draghi’s job for him

12 January 2018

The euro hit three-year highs and government bond yields rose after a hint the ECB boss may rethink how long ultra-loose policy will last. The moves amount to tighter monetary conditions. That buys rate-setters time to phase out negative rates even though growth is picking up.

German workers may frustrate ECB’s inflation hopes

9 January 2018

Industrial staff in Europe’s biggest economy are striking for higher pay. They may, however, trim wage demands in return for flexible working. If pay pressures fail to flare in such a tight labour market, the European Central Bank can hardly count on them surfacing elsewhere.

Bank clients will learn the value of data in 2018

28 December 2017

New EU regulations will force lenders to share account information with competitors - subject to savers’ consent. Up to two-fifths of banks’ revenue could be at stake. New entrants will need to overcome privacy concerns. Even so, customers will discover what their data is worth.

Portugal beats Italy in bond market pecking order

15 December 2017

The country that needed a bailout in 2011 can borrow for less than its larger peer. Investors’ preference for Portuguese debt reflects its more vibrant economy, and messy Italian politics. Lisbon can keep outshining Rome, so long as lax bond markets don’t encourage bad habits.