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☆ The US just sanctioned the Russian manufacturer of Lancet, a $35,000 tank-smashing 'suicide' drone that has been impeding Ukraine's counteroffensive
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-05 | by ( Lloyd Lee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The US imposed sanctions against Russian manufacturer Zala Aero, which produces the Lancet drones. The Lancet drone is a loitering munition that stays near its target before crashing into it. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe US imposed sanctions on Thursday against a Russian manufacturer of lightweight drones that has been impeding the progress of Ukraine's counteroffensive. Lancet drones are small and lightweight, with its latest iteration, the Lancet-3M, weighing about 26.5 pounds — including the payload —and measuring less than 6 feet long, The Wall Street Journal reported. AdvertisementAdvertisementOne video circulating online appeared to show a Lancet drone dropping explosives on a Ukrainian MiG-29 fighter jet that was sitting on the tarmac of an air base.

Persons: —, It's, Igor Zimenkov, Samuel Bendett, James Patton Rogers, Patton Rogers, Oleksandr Afanasyev Organizations: Zala Aero, Service, Ukraine, Department of State, US, SWIFT, State Department, Department, Foreign, Control, Street Journal, Center, New, New American Security, Reuters, Russia, IRIS, Cornell Tech Policy Institute, University of Southern, Aero Locations: Zala, Russian, Russia, New American, Germany, University of Southern Denmark, Ukrainian, Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine

The Bank of Nova Scotia (Scotiabank) logo is seen outside of a branch in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, February 14, 2019. REUTERS/Chris Wattie Acquire Licensing RightsTORONTO, Nov 3 (Reuters) - The chief operating officer of Bank of Nova Scotia's (BNS.TO) Canadian banking unit, Kevin Teslyk, has left the company, according to an internal memo seen by Reuters, the latest in a series of management changes under CEO Scott Thomson. James Neate, president of corporate and investment banking and Shawn Rose, chief technology officer have also left Scotiabank, the memo said. Canadian banks, including Royal Bank of Canada (RY.TO), Bank of Montreal (BMO.TO), have announced job cuts due to higher costs forcing. Neate, who has held senior executive roles in retail banking, commercial banking and wealth management, among others, will leave the bank at the end of December, according to the memo.

Persons: Chris Wattie, Kevin Teslyk, Scott Thomson, James Neate, Shawn Rose, Aris Bogdaneris, Dan Rees, Thomson, Mike Rizvanovic, Rose, Nivedita Balu, Kirsten Donovan, Louise Heavens Organizations: of Nova, REUTERS, Rights TORONTO, Bank of Nova, Reuters, Scotiabank, ING Group, Aris, Scotia, Royal Bank of Canada, Bank of Montreal, Thomson Locations: of Nova Scotia, Ottawa , Ontario, Canada, California, Toronto

☆ Take Five: You (may) have arrived at your destination
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

No wonder markets see a 70% chance that the Fed's brutal 20-month tightening cycle is over and that rate cuts could begin as soon as June. So watch closely to see if the top central bankers push back against the cut chatter until inflation is truly tamed. Shekel, gold, oil response to the war5/RACE DAY RATE HIKEThe famous Melbourne Cup horse race runs on Tuesday, but some of the shortest odds are on an Aussie central bank rate hike over in Sydney that day. Three-year and 10-year Australian government bond yields have hit their highest since 2011, though backed off slightly on the Fed's hold. The Australian dollar has also rallied strongly against its New Zealand counterpart as rate expectations diverge.

Persons: Marc Jones, Dhara, Kevin Buckland, Tom Westbrook, Lewis Krauskopf, BoE, Horton, Walt Disney, Mittal, shekel, Antony Blinken, Jordan, Luci Ellis, Kripa Jayaram, Riddhima Talwani, Gareth Jones Organizations: Federal Reserve, Fed, ECB, FX, Bank of Japan, Reuters, eBay, Nvidia, UBS, ABN Amro, Allianz, Friday, U.S, Melbourne Cup, Westpac, New Zealand, Thomson Locations: Australia, Gaza, Here's, London, Tokyo, Singapore, New York, Britain, U.S, Europe, Commerzbank, Israel, Gaza City, Iran, Sydney

Arctic-2 LNG has been expecting to start exporting soon and it is uncertain how much Russian LNG would be blocked by the new measures. The largest Russian LNG producer Novatek (NVTK.MM) said in September it would start shipments from Arctic-2 LNG early next year. The State Department said Zakharov is the creator and designer of the drones. "And every sanctions decision must work in full, so that there is no chance for Russia to bypass them." The State Department also imposed sanctions on multiple defense-related entities and procurement companies in the UAE.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Joe Biden, Doug Mills, Biden, Vladimir Putin, Antony Blinken, Aleksandr Zakharov, Zakharov, Andriy Yermak, Yermak, Daphne Psaledakis, Timothy Gardner, Alexandra Alper Mike Stone, Karen Freifeld, Yuliia Dysa, Ron Popeski, Nick Zieminski, Diane Craft Organizations: U.S, White, Rights, Moscow, State Department, Commerce Department, United Arab, Treasury Department, Systems, Treasury, Russian LNG, European, ZALA Aero, Russian Ministry of Defense, The State Department, Russian Federation, Washington, Turkish, UAE . Construction, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, United States, Ukraine, Siberia, Washington, Russian, U.S, United Arab Emirates, Turkey, China, Russia, Moscow, Crimea, Europe, European Union, Ukrainian, ZALA, UAE, New York, Gdansk, Beijing

The sanctions imposed by Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control target third-party firms and people alleged to assist Moscow in procuring equipment needed on the battlefield, including suppliers and shippers. In addition, the State Department imposed diplomatic sanctions targeting Russian energy production and its metals and mining sector. Thursday's sanctions targets include Turkish national Berk Turken and his firms, which are alleged to have ties to Russian intelligence. The latest sanctions build on the thousands of financial penalties imposed on Russian infrastructure and its officials, banks and oligarchs. He accused the U.S. and its allies of ignoring Russia’s demand to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO and offer Moscow security guarantees.

Persons: Berk Turken, Janet Yellen, Russia “, ”, SWIFT, Vladimir Putin Organizations: WASHINGTON, United Arab, Treasury Department's, Foreign, State Department, Treasury Department, United Arab Emirates, Financial Engineering, VTB Bank, Central Bank, NATO Locations: United States, Turkey, China, United Arab Emirates, Ukraine, Turkish, Russian, Russia, UAE, ARX, U.S, Moscow

Security cameras point towards pedestrians outside the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) headquarters in Toronto, Ontario, Canada March 16, 2017. RBC, Canada's top lender, said in September that it had infused fresh capital into City National, without elaborating, as it struggled amid the U.S. regional banking crisis. Rizvanovic estimates roughly $7 billion of low-yielding debt securities were transferred from City National to RBC, and he said the return on invested capital should "improve meaningfully" following the move. Since RBC acquired it for $5.4 billion in cash and stock, City National has most recently received amounts between $450 million, $700 million and $600 million annually. The bank has previously said realized losses at City National will be eliminated at the RBC consolidated level.

Persons: Chris Helgren, Mike Rizvanovic, Kelly Coffey, Dave McKay, Nivedita Balu, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Royal Bank of Canada, REUTERS, Rights, National Bank, Los, City National, RBC, Reuters, Valley Bank, City, Thomson Locations: Toronto , Ontario, Canada, Los Angeles, United States, U.S, Santa Clara , California, Toronto

☆ State Street CEO O'Hanley to take additional role as bank's president
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The logo and trading symbol of financial services company State Street are displayed on a screen on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, U.S., March 8, 2017. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 30 (Reuters) - State Street Corp (STT.N) said on Monday its CEO and Chairman Ron O'Hanley will take on an additional role as the bank's president after Louis Maiuri retires, set for early next year. Maiuri also serves as State Street's chief operating officer and head of its largest business, investment services. The custodian bank said Mostapha Tahiri, currently head of Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, will become chief operating officer, while O'Hanley will take the responsibility of the investment services unit. State Street is among the world's largest custodian banks with $40 trillion in assets under custody and/or administration and $3.7 trillion in assets under management (AUM) as of Sept 30.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Ron O'Hanley, Louis Maiuri, Maiuri, Mostapha Tahiri, O'Hanley, Manya Saini, Krishna Chandra Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Street Corp, Asia Pacific, Thomson Locations: New York, U.S, Middle East, North Africa, Bengaluru

☆ Explainer: What is pushing the Nigerian naira to record lows?
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( Chijioke Ohuocha | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Investors cheered when Tinubu lifted the currency controls, hoping a unified exchange rate would make it easier to access foreign currency, but that is yet to happen. Banks then repaid foreign credit lines with their own funds when the central bank did not pay out. New central bank governor Yemi Cardoso said clearing the backlog was a priority but he gave no timeline for how long it would take. The country's forex reserves fell to $33.5 billion in September from $37 billion in January, central bank data shows. Banks use their open net positions on foreign currency to finance short-term trade lines without resorting to the central bank for bidding.

Persons: Bola Tinubu, Tinubu, corporates, Banks, Yemi Cardoso, Chijioke Ohuocha, MacDonald Dzirutwe, Hugh Lawson Organizations: JPMorgan, FX, National Economic Council, BANK, Thomson Locations: ABUJA, Nigeria

☆ Australia's surprisingly strong Q3 inflation raises odds of Nov rate hike
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Stella Qiu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Markets are wagering both the U.S. Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank are done with hiking. HAWKISH MESSAGINGThe recent messaging from the central bank has been on the hawkish side. The biggest contributors to the third quarter inflation were fuel, rents, and electricity. Fuel prices rose 7.2% from a year ago, reversing two quarters of price falls, with the conflict in the Middle East potentially set to further stoke inflationary pressures. The central bank forecast in August that inflation was only projected to return to the top of the bank's target band of 2-3% in late 2025.

Persons: David Gray, Worryingly, Adam Boyton, Gareth Aird, Michele Bullock, Woolworths WOW.AX, Taylor Nugent, Stella Qiu, Wayne Cole, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Reserve Bank of Australia, Australian Bureau, Statistics, Wednesday, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, ANZ, Economics, CBA, U.S . Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, Woolworths, National Australia Bank, NAB, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Australia

☆ Russian war economy is overheating on a powder keg
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Pierre Briancon | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

LONDON, Oct 25 (Reuters Breakingviews) - His war on Ukraine may not be unfolding according to plan, but President Vladimir Putin can still claim that the Russian economy is performing, as he says, “better than previously expected”. This kind of understatement is unusual for the Kremlin leader: with a tight labour market and inflation showing no signs of abating, the Russian economy is in fact overheating. And these are conservative numbers, because other types of war spending – such as new construction in the occupied territories – are hidden in other sections of the budget. The Russian currency is down 30% since its January high. Follow @pierrebri on XCONTEXT NEWSThe Russian economy will grow by 2.2% in 2023, the International Monetary Fund said in its October World Economic Outlook.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, “, Putin, Alexandra Prokopenko, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Wagner, Francesco Guerrera, Streisand Neto, Thomas Shum Organizations: Reuters, Kremlin, International Monetary, Bank of Russia, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Bank of, Danone, Carlsberg, International Monetary Fund, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Russian, Russia, –, Moscow, Europe, Lithuania, microchips, Kazakhstan, Bank of Russia, United States, China, U.S, Beijing

☆ India's Axis Bank Q2 profit beats view on robust loan growth
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BENGALURU, Oct 25 (Reuters) - India's Axis Bank (AXBK.NS) reported a bigger-than-expected rise in second-quarter profit on Wednesday, helped by strong growth in loans. Loan demand stayed strong as an uptick in consumer spending helped drive retail credit. The bank is seeing strong demand for loans from corporate clients, including for capital spending, it said. Net interest income - the difference between interest earned and interest expended - rose 19% year-over-year to 123.15 billion rupees. The country's top lender HDFC Bank (HDBK.NS) reported a drop in margins earlier this month, while IndusInd Bank (INBK.NS), ICICI Bank (ICBK.NS), and Kotak Mahindra Bank (KTKM.NS) reported second-quarter profit gains.

Persons: Amitabh Chaudhry, Chaudhry, Varun, Mrigank Organizations: Bank, HDFC Bank, IndusInd Bank, ICICI Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Sethuraman, Varun Vyas, Thomson Locations: BENGALURU, Mumbai, Bengaluru

Savings accounts are low interest rate-bearing deposits offered by Indian banks, forming a third of their total deposits. Public sector banks offer interest rates between 2.70% to 4% on savings deposits, while large private banks offer rates between 3% to 4.50%. Savings deposits rate of banks vs RBI's repo rateThe RBI has been nudging banks at meetings to raise savings deposit rates and may need to push them again if required, the same source said. The RBI said in its monetary policy report that while the increase in term deposit rates in the current tightening cycle has exceeded that in lending rates, savings deposit rates have remained almost unchanged. Yes Bank (YESB.NS), Kotak Mahindra Bank (KTKM.NS) and IndusInd Bank (INBK.NS) are among lenders that have recently said they have no plans to raise savings deposit rates.

Persons: Anushree, Siddhi Nayak, Swati Bhat, Nivedita Organizations: Reserve Bank of India, REUTERS, Rights, Savings, Reuters, Yes Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, IndusInd Bank, Siddhi, Thomson Locations: New Delhi, India, Rights MUMBAI

☆ UniCredit beats third-quarter profit estimates, keeps 2023 outlook
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The logo of Italian international banking group UniCredit stands on the facade of the group headquarters, located in the Porta Nuova district, as seen from the viewpoint of Palazzo Lombardia on September 29, 2023 in Milan, Italy. Italy's UniCredit on Tuesday beat third-quarter profit forecasts as higher rates boosted income, but kept its full-year profit goal, saying it needed time to decide how to best use this year's "exceptional" growth inearnings. Shares rose more than 2% in early trading. Income from the gap in lending and deposit rates, on which Italy in August slapped a surprise one-off tax, rose 45% year-on-year. After spooking investors in Italian banks with the extraordinary levy, Italy backtracked, giving lenders the option to set aside money as reserves instead of paying it.

Persons: Italy's UniCredit Organizations: Italy Locations: Porta Nuova, Lombardia, Milan, Italy

☆ Top private Indian banks report strong Q2 profit rise as loan growth continues
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-21 | by ( Siddhi Nayak | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The bank's net interest income - the difference between interest earned and paid - rose nearly 24% to 183.08 billion rupees, while asset quality also improved. Kotak Mahindra Bank (KTKM.NS), the fourth largest Indian bank by market capitalisation, reported a 21% rise in loans for the second quarter, which contributed to a 24% increase in standalone net profit. Indian banks have consistently clocked double-digit loan growth over the past few months due to rising demand for credit, amid increased consumer spending. However, the banking regulator has been concerned about a sharp rise in unsecured loans - mostly personal loans and credit cards. "Although concerns (in the unsecured book) remain, they are not currently significant," said the bank's MD Prashant Kumar.

Persons: Dipak Gupta, Prashant Kumar, Siddhi Nayak, Clelia Oziel, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: ICICI Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Yes Bank, Siddhi, Thomson Locations: MUMBAI

☆ China weighs options to blunt U.S. sanctions in a Taiwan conflict
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Eduardo Baptista | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +10 min

"In the context of intensified Sino-U.S. strategic competition and the Taiwan Strait conflict, we should be wary of the U.S. replicating this financial sanction model against China," wrote Chen Hongxiang, a researcher at a branch of the People's Bank of China (PBOC) in eastern Jiangsu province. Wang and several PBOC researchers wrote in articles that if the U.S. implemented Russia-style sanctions on China, Beijing should freeze U.S. investment and pension funds and seize the assets of U.S. companies. ENERGY AND ALLIANCESBesides financial sanctions, Russia's response to Western pressure on its oil, gas, metals, and chips industry has given food for thought to Chinese researchers. Chinese researchers also suggested Beijing exploit cracks within the European Union and between the U.S. and its allies. "The mutual penetration of the Chinese and American economies will inevitably weaken the willingness to impose financial sanctions," he wrote.

Persons: Thomas Peter, Chen Hongxiang, Xi Jinping, Yu Yongding, Yu, PBOC, Wang Yongli, Wang, Sun, Mou Lingzhi, Xia Fan, Ye Yan, Martin Chorzempa, Chorzempa, Chen, Eduardo Baptista, David Crawshaw Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, U.S, Moscow, China, People's Bank of China, Reuters, Senior U.S, People's Liberation Army, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, China International Futures, U.S ., China Center for International Economic, Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, China Minmetals Corporation, London Metals Exchange, Oil and Gas Exploration, Development Company, European Union, Peterson Institute for International Economics, EU, Thomson Locations: Fuzhou, Taiwan, Matsu, China, Rights BEIJING, Russia, Ukraine, Jiangsu, Beijing, Russian, U.S, Hainan, Washington, United States

While bad loans in India's banking sector are at a decade-low, estimated at 3.6% of assets by March 2024 by the central bank, Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das said this month the central bank was monitoring some categories of personal loans, without elaborating. What's worrying the regulator is a surge in tiny personal loans, particularly loans of up to 10,000 rupees ($120) taken for three to four months, often for "lifestyle" spending, according to a person familiar with the central bank's thinking. Four people discussed the central bank's concerns with Reuters but declined to be identified as they are not authorised to speak to the media. Ismail Sayyed, a 30-year old cab driver from Mumbai, took his first personal loan of 5,000 rupees this year. Central bank officials "have been ringing the bell", said an official at a large bank that has seen sharp growth in personal loans.

Persons: Francis Mascarenhas, Shaktikanta Das, CRIF, Ismail Sayyed, Kadam, Rajeev Jain, Ira Dugal, Sonali Paul Organizations: Reserve Bank of India, REUTERS, Reuters, Bajaj Finance, UBS, Thomson Locations: Mumbai, India

[1/2] A sign for The Bank of Nova Scotia, operating as Scotiabank, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Dec. 13, 2021. REUTERS/Carlos Osorio/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 18 (Reuters) - Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS.TO) on Wednesday announced plans to cut about 2,700 jobs globally - 3% of its workforce - and take a C$590 million ($430.94 million) charge in the fourth quarter, making it the latest Canadian bank to take cost-cutting steps in a challenging environment. Royal Bank of Canada (RY.TO) and Bank of Montreal (BMO.TO) similarly have cut hundreds of jobs in response to rising costs in a high interest rate environment. Scotiabank said the layoffs will result in a restructuring charge and severance provisions of about C$247 million. Analysts said the charge does not come as a surprise amid a review of is strategic direction.

Persons: Carlos Osorio, Scott Thomson, Darko Mihelic, Jaiveer Singh, Balu, Will Dunham, Shilpi Majumdar, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: The Bank of, Scotiabank, REUTERS, Bank of Nova, Wednesday, Royal Bank of Canada, Bank of Montreal, China's, China's Bank of Xi'an, Analysts, RBC Capital, Thomson Locations: The Bank of Nova Scotia, Toronto , Ontario, Canada, Bank of Nova Scotia, China's Bank, Bengaluru, Toronto

REUTERS/Carlos Osorio Acquire Licensing RightsTORONTO, Oct 10 (Reuters) - Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS.TO) and Sun Life Financial's (SLF.TO) asset-management division are partnering to tap into the demand from wealthy Canadians looking to invest in private credit, the firms said on Tuesday. The move comes as private credit becomes one of the fastest growing and most attractive private asset classes, forecast to grow to $2.3 trillion in assets globally by 2027, according to Preqin data. The private credit market is less mature in Canada than in the U.S. and Europe but is slowly gaining attention. In a recent survey taken out by Canadian firm Ninepoint Partners, nearly two-thirds of financial advisors said they expect to increase their client or model portfolios' exposure to private credit in the next 12 months. Scotiabank Global Wealth Management is the third-largest business of its kind in Canada with C$631 billion of assets globally, while SLC Management manages $361 billion in assets.

Persons: Carlos Osorio, Glen Gowland, Nivedita Balu, Marguerita Choy Organizations: The Bank of, Scotiabank, REUTERS, Rights, Bank of Nova, SLC Management, Sun, Wealth Management, Ninepoint Partners, Scotiabank Global Wealth Management, Thomson Locations: The Bank of Nova Scotia, Toronto , Ontario, Canada, Bank of Nova Scotia, Sun, U.S, Europe, Toronto

In Canada, homeowners can take out five-year mortgages, unlike in the U.S. where customers can snag a 30-year mortgage. In some cases, renewed home loan rates could reach 7%, which would push up the average Canadian mortgage by at least a few hundred dollars per month, mortgage brokers estimate. Canadians are already struggling to repay their debts amid high costs of living and rising interest rates. "This dramatic rise in bond yields means that when the computer chugs along and sets up the rates for next week, they will be using higher rates based on these high bond yields," Toronto-based mortgage broker Ron Butler said. He suggests that the spike in bond yields over the past month could on average add C$600 in monthly payments.

Persons: Lars Hagberg, Daniel Vyner, Wowa, Ron Butler, Justin Trudeau's, Hanif Bayat, Butler, Nivedita Balu, Fergal Smith, Denny Thomas, Josie Kao Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Capital, Bank of, Canada Mortgage, Housing Corp, Bank of Canada, Mortgage Professionals Canada, Thomson Locations: Ottawa , Ontario, Canada, U.S, Toronto

The jobless rate stayed at 5.5% for a third consecutive month, Statistics Canada said. Wage growth is also beating market expectations," said Michael Greenberg, a portfolio manager for Franklin Templeton Investment Solutions. "Despite the aggressive rate hikes by the Bank of Canada, clearly demand remains strong and companies continue to hire. Money markets increased bets for a rate increase later this month after the jobs figures were published. With September's robust gains, the economy is averaging 30,000 monthly employment growth this year, up from 25,000 a month earlier.

Persons: Carlos Osorio, Michael Greenberg, Greenberg, Derek Holt, Holt, haven't, they've, we're, Statscan, Ismail Shakil, Nivedita Balu, Steve Scherer, Fergal Smith, Dale Smith, Mark Porter Organizations: Queen, West, REUTERS, Rights OTTAWA, Statistics, Reuters, Franklin Templeton Investment Solutions, Bank of Canada, Scotiabank, Thomson Locations: Toronto Ontario, Canada, Statistics Canada, U.S, Ottawa

☆ Australia's central bank sees risks mounting in global markets, China property
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Two women walk next to the Reserve Bank of Australia headquarters in central Sydney, Australia February 6, 2018. In an effort to curb surging inflation, the central bank has lifted interest rates to a decade-high of 4.1%, causing widespread financial stress among households where debt levels are at record peaks. "A small, but rising share of borrowers are on the cusp, or in the early stages, of financial stress," the review stated. "A tightening in global financial conditions could transmit to Australia via linkages in funding markets and risk aversion," the review said. Another area of concern was China's property sector where financial stress was proving a drag on the world's second largest economy and Australia's single biggest export market.

Persons: Daniel Munoz, Michele Bullock, Wayne Cole Organizations: Reserve Bank of Australia, REUTERS, Rights, Financial, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Australia, China, U.S, United States, AUSTRALIA

India is by far Canada's largest source of global students in the country's fast-growing international education business, making up for roughly 40% of study permit holders. International students contribute over C$20 billion ($14.6 billion) to the Canadian economy each year. Reuters spoke to more than a dozen universities and consultants in Canada and India who said they were taking measures to reassure students. Last week, Canadian Immigration Minister Marc Miller described international students "an asset that is very lucrative". In Punjab's Amritsar, home to the Golden Temple, one of the holiest sites in Sikhism, over 5,000 students moved to Canada last year.

Persons: Justin Trudeau, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, We've, Joseph Wong, Ashok Kumar Bhatia, John Tibbits, Tibbits, Marc Miller, Rhonda Lenton, Jiwan Sharma, Melanie Joly, Gurbakhshish Singh, Nivedita Balu, Wa, Manoj Kumar, Denny Thomas, Josie Kao Organizations: Canada's, Canadian, Reuters, University of Toronto, Reuters Graphics, Association of Consultants, Overseas Studies, Conestoga, York, Taxi, Thomson Locations: India's, Vancouver , British Columbia, Canada, TORONTO, AMRITSAR, India, New Delhi, British Columbia, Kitchener , Ontario, Punjab, Punjab's Amritsar, Ottawa, Amritsar, Wa Lone, Toronto

☆ How to cash in on India: Citi says this sector is a better bet than tech — and names its top stock picks
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Ganesh Rao | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

IT Services" on Sept. 28, Citi analysts said banks are poised to outperform the information technology services sector over the next 12 months. "We thus believe Indian banks will not be directly impacted by an uncertain global growth or global higher-for-longer policy rate cycles." The bank's analysts expect private sector banks to continue gaining market share from public sector banks. However, Citi noted increasing competitive pressures from smaller firms vying for deals in the IT services sector. The Citi analysts also said that banks are trading close to historical averages on a price-to-book basis.

Persons: Surendra Goyal, —, Joanna Tan Organizations: Citi, ICICI Bank, IndusInd Bank, IT, New York Stock Exchange, IT Services Locations: India

☆ Goldman expects 'healthy' growth at these 3 Indian banking stocks – giving one nearly 50% upside
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Ganesh Rao | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Goldman Sachs forecasts "healthy" growth in new lending at three major Indian banks over the next six months, which it says could lead to a significant upside for these stocks. The Wall Street bank noted that Indian bank stocks have broadly outperformed the MSCI India index over the past year, but have underperformed over the last three to six months. Goldman Sachs said that valuation multiples for Indian banks have declined the most despite earnings per share (EPS) upgrades. HDB KOTAKBANK-IN,SBIN-IN YTD mountain However, Goldman Sachs expects operating profit to bottom out in the December quarter of 2023 as margins and growth rates stabilize. Goldman's view on the Indian banks Kotak Mahindra Bank Price target: 2,624 Indian rupees ($31.6).

Persons: Goldman Sachs, Rahul Jain, Hardik Shah, Goldman, ROA, ROE, CNBC's Naman Tandon Organizations: Mahindra Bank, State Bank of India, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Mahindra Bank Price, SBI, HDFC Locations: India, United States

☆ Larger Italian banks still seen paying one-off tax despite opt-out offer
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Valentina Za | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The government sparked a market rout last month with the surprise announcement of a 40% tax on the profits banks are reaping from rising interest rates. The option would benefit banks that hold a higher proportion of Italian government bonds among their assets relative to loans. Banca Akros and broker Equita also expect most banks to pay the tax. Equita also said paying the levy would allow lenders to maintain more flexibility over their remuneration policy. Switching the tax basis to risk-weighted assets helps banks which have a lower 'risk density', meaning the average risk weight per unit of exposure.

Persons: Jennifer Lorenzini, Equita, Akros, Siena, Valentina Za, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: REUTERS, Generale, Banca Akros, ICCREA, Bank, Banca Generali, Thomson Locations: Monte dei, Siena, Italy, Italy's

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