New Linklaters report: European banks face major credit risks over bad loans November 2, 2015 European banks are still holding onto an estimated €826bn (£588bn) of non-performing loans, despite increased oversight, according to a new report out today. Global law firm Linklaters estimated that since the European Central Bank (ECB) introduced its Single Supervisory Mechanism (SSM) last November, non-performing loan (NPL) volumes across European banks have remained high, reducing only [...]
HSBC third-quarter results 2015: Investors await details on bank’s restructuring and relocation November 2, 2015 Investors will be looking for further indications of whether HSBC will relocate from London when Britain’s biggest bank reveals its third-quarter results today. It was reported last week that HSBC was considering moving its headquarters to the United States, rather than Hong Kong as previously anticipated. Management are expected to update investors on the review [...]
Standard Chartered results 2015: Asia-facing bank to post third-quarter performance amid capital-raising reports November 2, 2015 Standard Chartered is expected to post another drop in profits tomorrow, as new chief executive Bill Winters struggles to turn around the ailing Asia-facing bank. The results come amid increased speculation that Standard Chartered is looking to raise at least $4bn (£2.59bn) from investors. Bloomberg first reported last week that Standard Chartered management had met [...]
Britain ranked as 15th most prosperous country in the world – Legatum Institute November 2, 2015 Britain's economy is soaring past its European counterparts thanks to an employment boom, a major new report says today – but education and health standards are slipping to the bottom of the league table. The Legatum Institute’s annual Prosperity Index, which ranks 142 countries across eight categories using a combination of official statistics and public polling, placed the UK [...]
Economists predict Bank of England will hold UK interest rates on Thursday November 1, 2015 Economists have predicted that the Bank of England (BoE) will keep interest rates at 0.5 per cent on Thursday. So-called Super Thursday will see the BoE release a range of information, including the interest rate decision, an inflation report and Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting minutes. Dr Howard Archer, chief UK & European economist at [...]
EU referendum: Almost three-quarters of London’s professional practices fear a Brexit November 1, 2015 Almost three-quarters (71 per cent) of London’s professional practices believe Britain leaving the EU would have a negative impact on their business, Smith & Williamson has revealed exclusively to City A.M. However, only 38 per cent of firms outside of London and the South East questioned in the accountancy group’s Professional Practices Survey thought that [...]
Selfridges’ tills ring with record full-year profits November 1, 2015 Selfridges has post record profits of £155m for last year as the upmarket department store chain pushed ahead with its online expansion overseas and expanded its UK stores. The retailer, which has just unveiled its famous Christmas window displays on Oxford Street – this year inspired by the 12 signs of the zodiac – said [...]
Turkey’s lira strengthens against the dollar after 2015 election result November 1, 2015 Turkey’s lira strengthened almost three per cent against the dollar, the strongest it has been since mid-August, after today’s election results. The lira reached 2.84 to the dollar in low-volume trade today, compared to Friday’s close of 2.91. Today’s election results see Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) win back a majority, which it lost [...]
Commerzbank chief Martin Blessing to leave in October 2016 November 1, 2015 Martin Blessing, chief executive of Commerzbank, has today announced he will step down from his position when his contract expires in October 2016. Blessing has been on the bank’s board of managing directors for 15 years and has held the chief executive post since 2008. Commenting on his decision, Blessing said: “I was delighted to [...]
UK challenger Metro Bank could do more fund-raising instead of an IPO November 1, 2015 Leading challenger Metro Bank is considering scrapping its long-awaited initial public offering (IPO) next year in favour of more rounds of private fund-raising. Metro Bank, which has been in business since 2010, said in its third-quarter results announcement last week that it “continues to target” a listing for next year. But the bank's founder and [...]