Jules Stewart reports on the main points raised at The Banker’s Banking on Russia conference.Three leading market participants addressed a conference on Russian banking organised by The Banker on May 24 to review progress made in reforming the sector and assess the outlook for future progress.
Spanish banks have had an uphill struggle in Latin America but now the continent is delivering returns at the same time as the domestic market remains buoyant. Jules Stewart reports.Last month’s terrorist attacks in Madrid may have raised a question mark over Spain’s political agenda, but for the banks it is business as usual, only more so. The outlook for 2004 is for continued growth inoperating profits.
Spiro Pappas of ABN AMRO and Charles Lucas of ABN AMRO Rothschild talk to Jules Stewart about the future of capital management post-Basel II and how preparation for the Accord’s implementation has changed the thinking of financial institutions.Basel II may be just round the corner or it may be three years down the road, depending which commentators you listen to. Nevertheless, the final draft is on the table and financial institutions worldwide are being forced to think in a different way.
Jules Stewart reports on Banca Nazionale del Lavoro’s arrival on the securitisation scene and how it has become Italy’s frontrunner for RMBS.Banca Nazionale del Lavoro (BNL) was something of a latecomer to the securitisation market. It only started planning its first transaction in 2002, however, it has since powered into a leading market position among Italian issuers.
With multi-billion dollar acquisitions to finance, banks need inexpensive ways to replenish their capital. Tax and cost-effective, preferred shares are the answer to their prayers, but convincing the regulators to count them as Tier One can be challenging. Jules Stewart reports on the twists and turns to keep the issuers and the authorities happy.