Globally, M&A deals dropped 19.6% year-on-year in 2022. All regions, except for the Middle East and Africa, saw a year-on-year decline.

The global private debt mountain has expanded over the past decade, with the world’s leverage now higher than pre-2008 levels.

Meanwhile, countries in the region are increasing the amount of deposits protected by EU deposit guarantee schemes.

The issue is especially acute in countries still with a large ATM network, such as Germany.

Even before the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank, investors and depositors had already started shifting their money from banks into more lucrative funds.

Banks’ share prices and credit spreads have partially recovered since the volatility that followed the confidence crisis surrounding Credit Suisse and Silicon Valley Bank.

European lenders are less exposed than US banks.

Structural challenges still impede optimal non-performing loan resolution.