Lehman shines in a turbulent day for the banks July 16, 2008 Lehman Brothers was one of the few banks to show a healthy rise in its share price yesterday – but only because of suggestions that its management, peeved by recent share price falls, were considering a buyout bid. Shares in Lehman, which have fallen 80 per cent so far this year, rose 13 per cent [...]
Rescue plan falls flat July 15, 2008 American mortgage giant Freddie Mac passed its first test of investor confidence yesterday as buyers flocked to its $3bn (£1.5bn) sale of securities just hours after the US government announced sweeping measures to prop-up the country’s largest mortgage finance companies. However, shares in Freddie Mac and its sister company Fannie Mae, which together own or [...]
Santander secures British expansion July 15, 2008 Standard Life, one of Alliance & Leicester’s largest shareholders believes the bank is being sold to Abbey National owner Santander at a “giveaway” price. Santander’s offer represents a 36 per cent premium to A&L’s share price on Friday, but it’s still well below the stock’s 1200p peak a year ago. Despite assurances from A&L chief [...]
Fire sale likely at Dawnay Day as £2bn empire teeters July 14, 2008 Dawnay Day, the privately owned financial services and property giant, faces the fire sale of many of its assets to plug a cash flow crisis. The £2bn empire, run by Guy Naggar and Peter Klimt, has called in Ernst & Young to restructure several companies within the group following a massive loss incurred last week [...]
US authorities move to rescue Freddie and Fannie July 14, 2008 Support from US Treasury comes minutes before far east markets open for trading US Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson moved to calm nerves about stricken American lenders Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac last night, saying the government would be willing to take an equity stake in the two banks. His eagerly awaited statement came just minutes [...]
Inside the private world of Citigroup’s bankers July 11, 2008 Private bankers over at Citibank are in a bit of a stew – and with good reason. Staff at the bank’s personal banking division have learned that anti-money laundering measures (AML) are to be stepped up suddenly to prevent criminals taking advantage of the private bank’s services. In an internal document seen by City A.M., [...]
Bank of Ireland hit as sector struggles July 9, 2008 Bank of Ireland’s share price reached a 20-year low yesterday after the governor of its board told shareholders to expect a difficult time. “It’s time for hard hats I’m afraid. It’s time to run this bank in a very conservative way,” Richard Burrows, governor of Bank of Ireland’s board, told shareholders at the company’s annual [...]
Fears mount for Bradford & Bingley as shares flop July 8, 2008 Bradford & Bingley’s stock plunged to an all-time low of 42p yesterday – well below its rights issue price of 55p – as concerns over the troubled lender’s future intensified. Fears also increased that the lender would issue another profit warning, due to the deepening crisis in the housing market, when it releases the prospectus [...]
Bradford & Bingley bankruptcy feared July 7, 2008 Fears that mortgage bank Bradford & Bingley is on the brink of bankruptcy have heightened following rating agency Moody’s decision to cut the cash strapped banks’ rating to Baa1, the lowest of any major British bank. “Our bankruptcy probability is increased to 25 per cent. UK property is 40 per cent over valued and B&B [...]
City rides to the £400m rescue of B&B July 4, 2008 Bradford & Bingley said last night its underwriters and other City institutions will back its £400m fundraising despite a dramatic decision by American private equity firm TPG to walk away from a deal after rating agency Moody’s cut the bank’s credit status. The move comes after Moody’s cut the cash-strapped bank’s rating to Baa1, giving [...]