European banks lost more
than 50 billiion Euros ($56 billion US) as Greece shut its banks and imposed
capital controls to attempt to prevent the collapse of its financial system.
Stoxx 600 Banks Index fell
4.4%, its largest dip since Novemeber 2011, with all 446 members declining.
Greece triggered a
sovereign debt crisis in 2009, when foreign banks had a large exposure to its
badly structured economy. In 2010, to avert a wider crisis, the European
Commission, European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund responed by
launching a 110 billion Euro bailout fund.
Greece no longer qualifies
for membership in the EU and there are widespread fears it will exit. A
new bailout comes with conditions, which has been put to referendum to be voted
by the Greek people. Economists speculate an exit from the EU would cause
a long and deep recession for Greece, beyond what it has suffered the last five
years.
While Greece is not considered a socialist
country, much of the massive Greek debt has been caused by the pervasive
socialist policies with high and early pensions, massive social support welfare
entitilements, socialized medicine, heavy business regulation and much
more.
European Banks Take
$56-B Hit Monday
$DB, $HSBC
European banks took
their deepest hit Monday since Y 2011, erasing more than EUR 50-B ($56 billion)
in market value, after Greece imposed capital controls and shut lenders.
The Stoxx 600 Banks
Index fell as much as 4.4%, the biggest intra-day decline since November 2011,
with all 46 members declining. The gauge was down 3.4% at 12:55 pFrankfurt
time.
Lenders in Italy,
Portugal and Spain were among the biggest decliners, led by Banco Comercial Portugues.
Greece shut its banks
and imposed capital controls to help avert the collapse of its financial system
amid increasing concerns it will be forced out of the euro area. Banks will be closed at least until
6 July the day after Greeks vote in a referendum on proposals to restore
bailout aid.
See a very negative mood
on markets, sovereign bonds, banks
of peripheral countries, will be the most affected by uncertainty.
The European Central
Bank (ECB) froze the ceiling on ELA (Emergency Liquidity Assistance) to Greek
lenders at just below EUR 89-B, refusing for the 1st time this year to maintain
a buffer as deposits decreased. .
Spain’s Banco Popular
Espanol SA fell 6.3% and Banco de Sabadell SA decreased 4.9%. Italy’s Banca
Monte dei Paschi di Siena SpA declined 7.1%, while Intesa Sanpaolo SpA dropped
4% and Banca Popolare di Milano Scarl fell 5.4%, Banco Comercial fell
8.8%.
“We are witnessing the
maximum level of concern about Greece today,” said the global chief investment
officer of equities at Fidelity Worldwide Investment, which oversees about
$284.7-B in assets.
While the risk of contagion has eased since Greece
triggered a sovereign debt crisis in Y 2009, when foreign banks had larger
direct exposures to the country, lenders remain vulnerable to the threat of a Euro breakup. Some also face swings in prices
on their sovereign holdings.
Italian banks’ stock of
their country’s sovereign debt stood at a near record high of EUR 415.5-B in
April, Bank of Italy data show.
“The main impact on
banks will be on their investment portfolios,” an analyst at Mediobanca SpA
Monday.
Banks in the rest of
Europe will also be affected through fixed-income trading, with Deutsche Bank
AG (NYSE:DB), and BNP Paribas SA
among the largest bond traders exposed to losses, he wrote.
HSBC Holdings Plc (NYSE:HSBC) and Credit Agricole
SA had the greatest exposure to Greece at the end of Y 2014, at 5-B Euros and
about 4.2-B Euros respectively.
Still, Greece leaving
the Euro region would be a “blip”
for British banks. The banks exposure to Greece is minimal. The UK banking
sector is well-prepared for” Greece defaulting or leaving the currency region.
Stay tuned…HeffX-LTN Paul Ebeling
http://www.livetradingnews.com/european-banks-take-56-b-hit-monday-109618.htm#.VZKuo-nbIqc
Comments
European Bank stocks fell where exposure to sovereign debt
bonds were substantial. This shareholder
action will give banks the signal to reduce their exposure to their sovereign
Bond investments in troubled countries. This sends a signal to Italy, Portugal
and Spain to cut government spending and increase revenue to ensure that they
will not follow the failure in Greece.
Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader
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