REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Deutsche Bundesbank FollowFRANKFURT, Nov 23 (Reuters) - Germany's financial firms may be well capitalised now but face challenges ranging from rising interest expenditure and weak loan demand to unrealised losses, Bundesbank Vice President Claudia Buch said on Wednesday.
"Almost two-thirds of savings banks and credit cooperatives now have unrealised losses throughout their banking book, which comprises loans as well as securities," Buch said in a statement.
Buch warned that interest rate expenditure was likely to rise in the future, which will compress margins and weigh on earnings.
Banks will struggle to offset higher costs via rising loan volumes since corporate demand is weak amid a recessionary environment.
"Even in adverse scenarios, financial institutions should have sufficient levels of capital and liquidity to be able to absorb shocks on their own," Buch added.
Persons:
Kai Pfaffenbach, Claudia Buch, Buch, Banks, Balazs Koranyi, Bernadette Baum
Organizations:
REUTERS, Thomson
Locations:
Frankfurt, Germany, FRANKFURT