Three years of efforts to enhance the soundness of the banking sector
• Why is it the capital the sinews of war?
Basis of bank balance sheets, equity protect in case of hardship, by absorbing the losses. For decades, regulators consider that the level of capital a bank against its commitments is the best indicator of its strength. The 2008 financial crisis has only reinforced this analysis for the simple reason that supervisors realized they had been unable to prevent it. Thus, their goal now is to reduce the impact of future crises, by ensuring that banks have sufficient buffers.In particular, the new international regulations, Basel 3, requires that by 2019 no later than the banks' capital should represent at least 7% of their commitments "hard equity" against a floor equivalent to 2% before the crisis .
• 400 billion already raised
In other words, the race started in the capital for a long time in Europe. First in 2008 and 2009 to offset losses from the crisis. And since 2010 to meet the requirements of Basel 3. The European Commission amounted to 340 billion euros state aid in the form of recapitalization of banks that it has validated between 2008 and 2010. Between January and April 2011, banks have continued to increase their capital by 50 billion euros. In total, nearly 400 billion euros were injected into the European banking system in three years. And it's not over.Portugal, Greece or Spain, the governments push to consolidate their banking sectors. European authorities concluded, following stress tests conducted in May, as eight banks of these countries had an immediate need for 2.5 billion euros. But the amount should be much higher because 16 banks, including Germany, remain in a tie no fax payday advance. For European banks, finally, the question is whether the economic downturn will thwart the rise of their ratios by reducing their profits. In which case they will either raise capital or reduce their commitments.
• Who are the deep pockets?
If Christine Lagarde calls on European banks to seek priority to private investors, the plummeting share price of Barclays and other general company since the beginning of the year complicates the equation.The UniCredit, Deutsche Bank and Commerzbank have had the chance to increase their capital just before the stock market crash of the summer. French banks, they have got just in time a boost through the stock dividend. In this context, it is no coincidence that the last few days of sovereign wealth funds and other major investors are back. Last week, Warren Buffett – who won $ 1.7 billion by betting $ 5 billion over Goldman Sachs in 2008 – has placed a ticket 5 billion in Bank of America. In addition, the merger of the second and third Greek banks is supported by a fund of Qatar. In 2007 and 2008, already, Singapore, Kuwait or China were brought to the rescue of troubled banks in the world.All did not keep good memories, like the fund of Abu Dhabi, Adia had placed $ 7 billion in Citigroup.
However, if by chance the private shareholders do not jostled, European states began to organize to ensure public support for the banking sector. This is the case in Spain, for example. In addition, the Summit of July 21, European governments have decided to allow the European stability fund to recapitalize banks directly if necessary.
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