China’s banking sector is proving hard to navigate in 2017. The economy is slowing, net interest margins have dropped and banking regulators are cracking down on financial malpractice. Stefania Palma assesses how the country's banks are faring in this challenging environment.
Chinese regulators have tightened their grip on the banking sector in an effort to control financial risk, the country’s ballooning shadow banking sector and excessive debt load. Which banks stand a better chance of meeting these tougher requirements? Stefania Palma reports.
China’s recently declared support for globalisation has given fresh hope to Latin America, which could benefit from its established trade links with the eastern giant in the form of greater investment in infrastructure, lower tariffs and higher value exports. Silvia Pavoni reports.
Postal Savings Bank of China has thrown its doors open to global investors with a jumbo Hong Kong IPO. While the share price has not moved much since the deal closed, the Hong Kong listing offers long-term benefits to the lender, which is eyeing potential business overseas. Stefania Palma reports.
China's fintech industry has grown at a rapid pace, in some cases leaving established tech giants of the West behind. Having cracked the domestic banking market, top Chinese fintech firms are already eyeing insurance and looking beyond the country's borders to continue their rapid ascent. Stefania Palma reports.
China’s microfinance sector is still developing but has strong potential to reduce poverty and support local SMEs. What are the challenges and opportunities for microfinance institutions in the country? The International Finance Corporation’s country manager for China, South Korea and Mongolia, Simon Andrews, explains.
Unprecedentedly, ICBC, China Construction Bank, Bank of China and Agricultural Bank of China are all in the top five banks by Tier 1 capital worldwide. But the good news does not end there for Chinese banks, with many putting in a strong performance further down the ranking.
The former head of Banco Espírito Santo’s investment arm, José Maria Ricciardi, talks to Stefania Palma about the parent bank’s turbulent last days and how he hopes to exploit its established European network in his new position as the chief executive of Haitong Bank.
Ahead of the 2016 Asian Development Bank annual meeting in Frankfurt, the president of the ADB discusses China’s slowdown and reform agenda while underscoring that other parts of Asia – such as India – are still growing strongly. Interview by Stefania Palma.
Two months after finalising Haitong Securities' acquisition of Novo Banco's investment banking unit, now called Haitong Bank, the parent company's deputy CEO and the UK head of the new bank talk about the acquisition, their international growth plans and what a jittery renminbi means to them.