BNP Paribas CEO Jean-Laurent Bonnafé tells The Banker why the bank's diversification strategy – along product lines, sectors and geography – is at the heart of its downturn-defying performance of recent years.
Western Europe
Latest articles from Western Europe
Making the link for non-bank lenders
July 1, 2013Bank deleveraging in Europe creates an opportunity for institutional and private investors to enter direct lending to a range of sectors, and there are plenty of new approaches and structures emerging.
World
/ Western Europe
/ UK
How Credit Suisse helped breathe new life into Thomas Cook
July 1, 2013Credit Suisse oversaw a combined rights issue, share placement, bond issue and loan renegotiation to rebuild client Thomas Cook from a near-default experience.
World
/ Western Europe
/ UK
RBS remains committed to channel integration
July 1, 2013Global head of channels and distribution in transaction services at Royal Bank of Scotland’s international banking unit, Ken Deveaux, talks about the bank’s efforts to consolidate its channels and build an integrated systems architecture.
European Council leaves buy-side in the dark
July 1, 2013A compromise proposal brokered by the Irish government would limit the proportion of EU equities traded in unlit venues. But critics say it is unnecessary and unworkable.
World
/ Western Europe
/ UK
UK's popular policies are not real solutions
July 1, 2013The UK's regulators are pursuing policies that appease the public, rather than those that solve the problems that triggered the financial crisis.
NPL woes continue for European lenders
July 1, 2013Asset quality in Greece deteriorated sharply, while remaining weak in Spain, Ireland and Slovenia. By contrast, non-performing loans are falling steadily in the US.
Western Europe's state of inertia
July 1, 2013Little has changed among the leading western European banks over the course of the past year, despite the best efforts of the region's authorities.
High-frequency trading: a game-changer for markets?
July 1, 2013High-frequency trading has changed the way equities, and to a lesser extent, other assets, are traded. This makes many involved in trading nervous, and they have every reason to be.
World
/ Western Europe
/ Italy
Emerging markets take profits crown
July 1, 2013Banks from the emerging markets in Latin America and the Asia-Pacific region dominate this year’s most profitable banks, leaving European banks with only two countries in the top 25 ranking.