Argentina and Venezuela have the lowest impairment rates in Latin America, but this does not reflect healthy economic conditions.
Latest articles from Philip Alexander
Is TLAC an Anglo-Saxon conspiracy?
January 5, 2015The Financial Stability Board’s proposal for bail-in debt appears ill-suited to continental European banking group structures.
Foreign banks face heavy hit from Russian slump
December 19, 2014
Russia has been a key profit driver for several Western European banks and the slide in the rouble will have a significant impact.

Eurozone banks beyond the comprehensive assessment
December 1, 2014There were few surprises in the outcome of the European Central Bank’s asset quality review and stress test, but the results highlight what still needs to be done.

2014: the year of banks behaving badly
December 1, 2014Growing geopolitical risk and the rising toll of misconduct fines overshadowed what should have been a year of strengthening economic recovery.

The changing face of global systemic banks
December 1, 2014A third Chinese bank has joined the Financial Stability Board’s list of global systemically important banks, but business models among the group are very different.
EU’s relaxed approach opens transatlantic liquidity gap
November 24, 2014The EU has introduced a liquidity coverage ratio for banks that is noticeably weaker than its US equivalent.
US asset-backed securities rules reassure issuers, but not investors
November 3, 2014The US Securities and Exchange Commission altered new rules for asset-backed securities to ease privacy concerns, but investors want more disclosure.

Global debt footprint helps HSBC steer through volatility
November 3, 2014While volatility has affected equity and high-yield debt markets, HSBC's head of debt capital markets sees opportunities from increased volumes in China and green bonds.
Assessing the vulnerability of Ukrainian banks
November 3, 2014
Ukraine has been forced by the conditions of its latest International Monetary Fund loan to conduct a domestic asset quality review. Ahead of this, The Banker assesses the health of the country's banks.