Explainer: What’s an AT1 bond – and why are Credit Suisse’s now worthless? March 20, 2023 UBS’ rescue deal of Credit Suisse, which will see it buy its stricken Zurich rival at a discount £3bn price, has come with a surprise for holders of Credit Suisse’s AT1 bonds. These risky bonds – which had a nominal value of $17bn – are now precisely worthless. Unsurprisingly, holders of the bonds are less [...]
Hong Kong and Tokyo: Why Asian markets declined after Credit Suisse’ takeover March 20, 2023 Asian stock markets fell on Monday after Swiss authorities arranged the takeover of troubled Credit Suisse amid fears of a global banking crisis. Ahead of a Federal Reserve meeting to decide on more possible interest rate hikes, markets in Hong Kong, Tokyo and Sydney declined. While in Shanghai, stocks edged up. Oil prices also retreated. [...]
Stagnant wages since 2008 financial crash means workers £11,000 worse off, BBC Panorama reveals March 20, 2023 Workers are £11,000 worse off per year due to 15 years of wage stagnation, according to the Resolution Foundation. In new figures shared with BBC Panorama, the think tank calculated that, had wages continued to grow at the pace seen before the 2008 financial crash, the average worker would make £11,000 more per year than [...]
Traders nervy at FTSE open after Asian bank stocks tank – despite Credit Suisse rescue March 20, 2023 The global sigh of relief at the rescue of Credit Suisse does not appear to have lasted long, with big banks battered in trading overnight in Asia. HSBC and StanChart both took more than a six per cent hit in Hong Kong as investors, already spooked by volatility in banking across the world, took flight. [...]
Analyst: Why Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has less headroom than he thinks on the public finances March 20, 2023 THE OFFICIAL Treasury watchdog may be repeating its mistake of over-estimating UK growth, Deutsche Bank analysts have warned, with the forecasting miss potentially wiping out Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s spending power in years to come. In forecasts published by the Office for Budget Responsibility last week, the watchdog said it expected UK GDP groth to settle around 1.75 [...]
Bank of England says UK banking sector is “safe and sound” amid Credit Suisse fallout March 19, 2023 The Bank of England moved late on Sunday evening to reassure investors that British banks remain strong despite the global drama in the banking sector, including UBS’ rushed purchase of Credit Suisse. The historic Zurich lender was pulled out of the fire by the Swiss government on Sunday ahead of a bankruptcy which would have [...]
Looking east: Which low-cost European destinations are Brits flocking to in search of a cheap getaway? March 18, 2023 Strong demand for low-cost eastern European destinations is driving a surge in the number of UK families booking city breaks, according to an online holiday company. Thomas Cook said family city break bookings so far this year are around 40 per cent higher compared with the same period in 2022. This is partly due to [...]
Now US shareholders sue beleaguered bank Credit Suisse for downplaying impact of losses March 17, 2023 US shareholders are suing Credit Suisse for giving false and misleading public statements and downplaying the impact of its losses, in the latest knock to the beleaguered bank. The Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, filed a class action lawsuit in New Jersey against the Swiss banking giant on behalf of investors. [...]
OECD: UK predicted to perform worst of all G20 economies… except Russia March 17, 2023 The UK’s economy is expected to perform the worst out of any Group of 20 (G20) economies apart from Russia this year and next, new analysis has suggested. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) said that it expects a 0.2 per cent fall in UK gross domestic product (GDP) this year, followed by [...]
Russia’s war in Ukraine: China premier Xi in show of support for Putin with leaders to meet in Moscow March 17, 2023 China says President Xi Jinping will visit Russia from Monday to Wednesday in an apparent show of support for Vladimir Putin. No other details were given but China has declared a “no-limits” friendship with Russia and refused to condemn Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine — while declaring the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries be [...]