Plans for a European banking union may address a perceived missing pillar of monetary union, but they are a very long-term project that threaten to cut across other measures to stabilise the system.
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SEPA goes ahead despite technical uncertainties
October 1, 2012A decade-old political vision to create a harmonised payments scheme across Europe is finally nearing its deadline. But the prospect of a Single European Payments Area never seemed so threatened by economic volatility or so opaque in regulatory direction.
Banks wake up to intraday liquidity management challenge
October 1, 2012Market reforms are flooding the financial sector and banks are facing the challenge of managing their liquidity more efficiently. But the industry remains divided on best practice approaches to intraday liquidity management.
Italy's banking leaders see chinks of light amid the gloom
October 1, 2012Italy's banks are struggling. Many are weighed down by bad assets and an oversubscription to government bonds, while those with relatively healthy portfolios are battling against a difficult economy and the series of downgrades that has recently befallen them. Despite this, CEOs at the country's largest institutions remain optimistic.
South Africa’s stuttering recovery
October 1, 2012In the past three years, South Africa’s economy has struggled. Its growth is slower than that of many other African countries, and the shooting of 34 miners in August exposed a simmering tension that exists within its boundaries. Yet while there is no quick fix, investors remain attracted by the strength of the country's institutions.
How new regulation could raise bank default risks
September 24, 2012Greater use of secured funding, depositor preference and bail-in regimes mean that bank failures and defaults on unsecured bank debt are likely to converge, while recoveries fall.
‘American finish’ to Basel takes the shine off smaller banks
September 24, 2012US regulators have extended the consultation over their proposed rules to implement the international Basel III capital requirements, as implementation fears mount up for smaller banks.
Austrian banks bear the brunt of government's strict measures
September 3, 2012Austria's government, driven an agenda to ensure that tax-payers do not pay for the financial crisis, which has seen it implement strict measures to fast-track compliance with Basel III rules, appears to show no sign of relenting in its dealings with the country's embattled banks.
Hong Kong toughens up IPO rules
August 27, 2012Hong Kong has seen a boom in initial public offerings in recent years, and now the country's Securities and Futures Commission is aiming to crack down on lax due diligence and introduce a stricter code of conduct for sponsoring banks.
Tanzania moves closer to realising its potential
August 1, 2012Despite a recent surge in inflation and exchange rate volatility, the prospects for Tanzanian banks are bright. With the country growing fast, banks are looking to exploit its large unbanked population and start offering more sophisticated products.