Banking Archives

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Banking

A NEW SUNRISE FOR SPAIN?

COUNTRY REPORT<br /> Although the hardships are far from over, the Spanish economy and banking system may finally be on the mend, with three components interrelating in a virtuous cycle: rebounding exports, rising consumer confidence, and a commitment to reform geared toward economic adjustments.

Banking

ECB GETS TO WORK ON ITS NEW EUROZONE BANK SUPERVISORY ROLE

MILESTONES: EUROPE<br /> The ECB grows up as it takes on bank supervisory powers.<br />

Banking

EUROPEAN STRESS TESTS MAY STILL BE TOO SOFT ON BANKS

Upcoming stress tests for Europe’s 124 largest banks will have more credibility than they had previously, but some analysts argue that banks may need far more capital than regulators demand to withstand a crisis. And any hoped-for international standardization in terms of stress testing is out the window as there is little comparability between the upcoming European and recently completed US bank tests.

Award Winners

ISLAMIC FINANCE AWARDS: NEW STRUCTURES, NEW MARKETS

ANNUAL AWARDS: BEST ISLAMIC FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS 2014<br /> Islamic finance is going mainstream, with new banks opening and new regulatory endeavors under way in this dynamic global mar

Banking

TAX RELIEF DRIVES CROSS-BORDER DEALS

CORPORATE FINANCING NEWS | MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS

Awards

BEST BANKS 2014: EUROPE

The region battled continuing recession or, at best, slow growth, a tightening regulatory environment and country-specific banking taxes or fines for past misdemeanors.

Awards

BEST BANKS 2014: MIDDLE EAST

Banks in the Middle East are liquid and well capitalized, particularly in the oil-producing countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Banking

BANKING: BRIDGING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE

Corporate banking has always lagged the retail sector when it comes to the adoption of digital technologies, but mobile-banking services are gathering pace—and some visionaries are even contemplating banking services based on wearable technologies.

Banking

DIAMOND: AFRICAN BANKS BEST FRIEND?

“Bob Diamond exists to make money for Bob Diamond, whatever he says. This isn’t to help develop Africa, it’s to make money for Bob Diamond and his partners.”

Banking

SAUDI INVESTMENT BANK NAMES FEMALE CEO

NCB Capital, a major Saudi Arabian investment bank, named Sarah Al-Suhaimi, an accomplished asset manager, as its new CEO. She is the first woman to head an investment bank in the kingdom. The Saudi government owns part of National Commercial Bank, which controls NCB Capital.

Banking

US VS THE WORLD: ROUND ONE

The fight has just begun, as newly enacted Fed rules start to cramp long-accepted operating styles of global banks. The banks are weighing what to do about it—as are global policymakers.

Banking

BEST BANKS 2014: ASIA-PACIFIC

Developing Asia will grow by 6.2% this year and 6.5% next, according to Asian Development Bank estimates, up slightly from 6.1% in 2013. Despite the uptick in overall growth, banks around the region continue to face challenging landscapes.