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[1/2] People are silhouetted next to the Deutsche Bank's logo prior to the bank's annual meeting in Frankfurt, Germany, May 24, 2018. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach Acquire Licensing RightsSummaryCompanies Shares up 7%Investment bank revenue declinesRevenue at retail and corporate divisions riseSlightly more optimistic on 2023 revenueForecasts buybacks in 2024, flags greater capital returnFRANKFURT, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Deutsche Bank (DBKGn.DE) on Wednesday promised more share buybacks next year and said it may return more capital to shareholders than it had previously envisaged, causing its shares to surge. Revenue from investment banking slumped but grew in the lender's retail and corporate divisions on higher interest rates. Deutsche Bank shares were up 7% in morning Frankfurt trade as analysts cited positive news on potential buybacks and dividends. Though earnings dropped, Deutsche recorded its 13th consecutive profitable quarter, a notable streak after years of hefty losses.

Persons: Kai Pfaffenbach, Deutsche, James von Moltke, Mediobanca, Sewing, JPMorgan's, Tom Sims, Frank Siebelt, Jamie Freed, Jason Neely Organizations: Deutsche, REUTERS, Deutsche Bank, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Reuters Graphics Reuters Graphics Investment, Revenue, Goldman, Barclays, RBC, Thomson Locations: Frankfurt, Germany, FRANKFURT

The logo of Deutsche Bank is seen in Brussels, Belgium December 6, 2022. REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Deutsche Bank AG FollowFRANKFURT, Oct 23 (Reuters) - Customers of two Deutsche Bank (DBKGn.DE) units have lodged a surge in complaints with Germany's consumer protection agency, the advocacy group said on Monday, as the banking giant scrambles to make good with aggravated clients. The VZBZ consumer group said it had registered about 1,700 complaints by customers of Deutsche's Postbank arm and its mortgage division in the year through September. The consumer group had already reported complaints of Postbank customers not having access to their funds for weeks and direct debits getting rejected, jeopardising their credit scores. BaFin got nearly 10,000 complaints about Postbank by early September, a person with direct knowledge of the matter said.

Persons: Yves Herman, VZBZ, Ramona Pop, BaFin, Sewing, Tom Sims, Rod Nickel Organizations: Deutsche Bank, REUTERS, Companies Deutsche Bank, FRANKFURT, Deutsche, Thomson Locations: Brussels, Belgium, Germany's, Postbank

Germany's property sector is in stress, underscoring a major change of fortune for real estate in Europe's largest economy after an end to the era of cheap money. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsFRANKFURT, Oct. 13 (Reuters) - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is facing fresh demands to stem a property crisis in Europe's largest economy after a recent summit aimed at rescuing the sector disbanded in acrimony. The industry's demands reflect alarm that Germany is being sucked further into a global property rout that has been most acutely felt in China. There is also concern that the government is dragging its feet after a contentious industry meeting with the chancellor on Sept. 25. The number of people employed in the building sector has begun to drop for the first time in a decade.

Persons: Kai Pfaffenbach, Olaf Scholz, Wolfgang Schubert, Raab, Schubert, Nicole Razavi, Scholz, Francesco Fedele, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, International Monetary Fund, chancellery, Thomson Locations: Frankfurt, Germany, Germany's, Europe's, China, Razavi, United States

☆ Germany welcomes China's support for G20 debt restructuring framework
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

German Finance Minister Christian Lindner speaks during a session of the lower house of parliament, Bundestag, at the Reichstag building, in Berlin, Germany September 27, 2023. REUTERS/Liesa Johannssen/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBERLIN, Oct 1 (Reuters) - Germany has welcomed a show of support from China for the G20 debt restructuring framework for poorer countries in a joint statement after their financial dialogue in Frankfurt over the weekend. Neither provided further details on the rules for the restructuring plans and the joint statement did not give specifics. "This creates opportunities on both sides for more responsible trade and investment," German Finance Minister Christian Lindner said on Sunday. The meeting took place in Frankfurt, as Germany want to further strengthen this city as an European hub for financial services, the finance minister said.

Persons: Christian Lindner, Liesa, Sunday's, Lindner, ” Lindner, Maria Martinez, Alison Williams Organizations: Bundestag, REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Berlin, Germany, China, Frankfurt, Africa, Asia, Beijing, European

☆ No decision on European Investment Bank presidency expected this week, German finance minister says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

German Finance Minister Christian Lindner speaks during a plenum session of the lower house of parliament, Bundestag, to present the 2024 budget and financial planning of the Federal Government, in Berlin, Germany September 5, 2023. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA, Sept 15 (Reuters) - German Finance Minister Christian Lindner said at the informal EU finance ministers meeting on Friday that a decision is not expected this week on who will become European Investment Bank (EIB) president. "There are several well-qualified candidates, for example our host today, Nadia Calvino," Lindner said before the meeting of euro zone finance ministers. Lindner said the German government hasn't made a decision yet on which candidate to back, "but we have a clear picture of how the EIB should develop." Lindner said the bank should keep its AAA rating: "Sound banking is essential for us."

Persons: Christian Lindner, Annegret, Nadia Calvino, " Lindner, Lindner, hasn't, Maria Martinez, Miranda Murray Organizations: Bundestag, Federal Government, REUTERS, SANTIAGO DE, German Finance, European Investment Bank, AAA, Thomson Locations: Berlin, Germany, SANTIAGO, SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA

The logo of the European Investment Bank is pictured in the city of Luxembourg, Luxembourg, March 25, 2017. Also interested are the politically non-affiliated Italian central banker Daniele Franco, Poland's right-wing former Finance Minister and current EIB Vice President Teresa Czerwinska, and Sweden's socialist former Energy Minister and also current EIB Vice President Thomas Ostros. "We can say we are really spoilt for choice because all the candidates are excellent," German Finance Minister Christian Lindner told reporters on Thursday. The EIB is the lending arm of the EU and is active in 160 countries offering loans, guarantees, equity investments and advisory services. Germany's Deputy Central Bank Governor Claudia Buch and her Spanish counterpart Margarita Delgado are both in the running.

Persons: Eric Vidal, Vincent van Peteghem, Germany's Werner Hoyer, Margrethe Vestager, Nadia Calvino, Daniele Franco, Poland's, Teresa Czerwinska, Thomas Ostros, Christian Lindner, Central Bank Governor Claudia Buch, Margarita Delgado, Buch, Vestager, Emmanuel Macron, Richard Chang Organizations: European Investment Bank, Reuters, Rights, Belgian, Union, European Commission, Finance, Energy, European Central Bank, Germany's, Central Bank Governor, SSM, Thomson Locations: Luxembourg, Rights BRUSSELS, Italian, Spanish, EU, Paris, Spain

For years, low interest rates fuelled a global boom, igniting interest in German property, seen as safe and stable as the country. The health of Germany's property sector - Europe's biggest property investment market outside of Britain - is critical, making up roughly a fifth of output and providing one in 10 jobs. Late last year, Hoeglmaier put his penthouse on the market, and Euroboden closed its Frankfurt office. In 2020, as the property market heated up, the Bundesbank warned the country's banks, for whom property accounted for about 70% of all domestic loans, of the risks. The 380-square meter (4,090 square foot) penthouse, which occupies the fifth through seventh floors and includes a rooftop terrace, originally listed for just under 13 million euros.

Persons: Leonhard Simon, Stefan Hoeglmaier, Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Tillmann Peeters, Hoeglmaier, Oscar Loya –, –, Euroboden, Daniel Bauer ,, Oliver Schartl, Loya, Christoph Niering, Matthias Inverardi, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, FalkenSteg, European Central Bank, Reuters, Facebook, Garden, Graphics, Thomson Locations: Munich, Germany, Europe's, Britain, Berlin, Frankfurt, Ukraine, Sweden, Europe, homebuilders, China, Evergrande

Germany's property sector is in stress, underscoring a major change of fortune for real estate in Europe's largest economy after an end to the era of cheap money. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach/File PhotoFRANKFURT, Aug 11 (Reuters) - A Munich-based property developer said on Friday it had filed to open insolvency proceedings with a local court, in the latest sign of stress in Germany's real estate sector. Weakness in real estate has also emerged in the United States and Sweden. Germany is Europe's largest economy and the biggest real estate investment market on the continent. The property sector accounts for roughly a fifth of Germany's economic output and one in ten jobs.

Persons: Kai Pfaffenbach, Euroboden, Tom Sims, Mark Potter Organizations: REUTERS, Euroboden GmbH, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Partner, Centrum Group, Thomson Locations: Frankfurt, Germany, Germany's, Europe's, Munich, Berlin, United States, Sweden

Germany's property sector is in stress, underscoring a major change of fortune for real estate in Europe's largest economy after an end to the era of cheap money. In the latest signs of stress in the sector, Germany's largest real estate group Vonovia (VNAn.DE) posted multi-billion euro losses and writedowns, and job growth for construction workers has stagnated. The property sector makes up roughly a fifth of economic output and one in ten jobs, according to the German Property Federation. The Ukraine war has also made German property seem riskier for foreign investors. The president of the German Property Federation, Andreas Mattner, is pressing the government to temporarily suspend a property sales tax and is demanding a low-interest rate credit program to support new residential building.

Persons: Kai Pfaffenbach, Sven Carstensen, Florian Schwalm, Olaf Scholz, Klara Geywitz, Andreas Mattner, Oliver Mueller, Matthias Inverardi, Holger Hansen, Friederike Heine Our Organizations: REUTERS, CARE, German Property Federation, Reuters Graphics Reuters, European Central Bank, Germany, German Construction Industry Federation, Thomson Locations: Frankfurt, Germany, Germany's, Europe's, Kai Pfaffenbach FRANKFURT, United States, Sweden, Ukraine, East, Asia

FILE PHOTO-A logo of German real estate company Vonovia, is pictured during a news conference in Duesseldorf, Germany, March 6, 2018. After a decade-long property boom, Germany is undergoing a sharp reversal of fortune after an era of cheap money ended. Germany's real estate sector is mired in its worst crisis in decades, marked by insolvencies, fizzling transactions, falling prices and a stagnation in construction jobs. Vonovia, which went public in 2013 at the start of the property boom and took over its biggest rival in 2021, serves as a bellwether for Germany's property sector. Vonovia affirmed full-year guidance for its key profit metric - so-called funds from operation - of 1.75 billion euros to 1.95 billion euros, down from 2.04 billion in 2022.

Persons: Thilo, Vonovia, Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Rolf Buch, Matthias Inverardi, Tom Sims, Miranda Murray, Friederike Heine, Kim Coghill, Alexander Smith Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters Graphics, Stifel, Thomson Locations: Duesseldorf, Germany

FRANKFURT, Aug 1 (Reuters) - Germany's property sector is under stress, prompting firms to call for government support, property developers to file for insolvency and share prices of landlords to plunge. Reuters GraphicsIt's just the latest in a flurry of indicators that show real estate in Germany is in a deep funk. "Many, many property developers at the moment are postponing projects or slowing them down," said Francesco Fedele, chief executive of BF.direkt, a property financing consultant. THE DAXVonovia, Germany's largest real estate group, serves as a bellwether for Germany's property sector. TRANSACTIONSGermany is the largest real estate investment market on the European continent.

Persons: Francesco Fedele, DAX Vonovia, Jones Lang LaSalle, Tom Sims, Holger Hansen, Ed Osmond Organizations: FRANKFURT, Reuters, Reuters Graphics, Stifel, Thomson Locations: United States, Sweden, Germany, Berlin, Frankfurt, Denmark, Europe

The European Banking Authority (EBA) said the test covered 70 banks, 20 more than in 2021 with 57 from the euro zone whose test was overseen by the European Central Bank, representing about 75% of banking assets in the EU. Of the 14 German banks tested, 8 were below the EU average for CET1 and leverage ratio, while 6 were above. The European Banking Federation, an industry body, said the results reaffirmed the resilience of the EU banking sector. The watchdog said that in year three of the test, 37 banks fell below capital levels that trigger curbs on payouts. Deutsche Kreditwirtschaft, an umbrella association representing the German financial industry, said the results proved that German banks were "resilient" but it criticized the ECB's approach.

Persons: Goldman, Banks, markups, Tom Sims, John O'Donnell, Mathieu Rosemain, Mark Potter Organizations: European Union, European Banking Authority, European Central Bank, EU, JPMorgan, Volkswagen Bank, La Banque Postale, European Banking Federation, Deutsche, ECB, Thomson Locations: FRANKFURT, Europe, United States, France, Frankfurt, Paris

But while Rose's departure means Europe's 25 biggest banks by assets are still 96% male-run, an analysis by Reuters has found that broader executive management teams have become slightly more balanced since last year. Top management teams at Europe's largest lenders are now 30.6% female, data compiled by Reuters shows, up from 25.6% for the same group of banks in early 2022. Reuters GraphicsAcross the broader financial services sector, however, a recent study by EY found that hiring of women at board of directors level in Europe had actually dipped. Companies appointed women to 44% of board openings in the 12 months through June 2023, down from 52% during the previous year. The overall gender split has nevertheless improved to 43% female and 57% male on the boards of European financial firms, EY found, from a 37%/63% split a year ago.

Persons: Alison Rose's, Isabelle Ferrand, Ann Francke, EY, Brenna Hughes, Tom Sims, Iain Withers, Jesus Aguado, Catherine Evans Organizations: NatWest, Reuters, Reuters Graphics, UBS, European, Chartered Management Institute, Companies, Thomson Locations: ZURICH, Europe, Frankfurt, London, Madrid

REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach/File PhotoFRANKFURT, July 27 (Reuters) - New construction plunged in Germany during the first half of the year, data on Thursday showed, the latest sign of stress in the property market of Europe's largest economy. The data underscore a steep rut that dominates the nation's real-estate sector in its worst crisis in decades. "There's strong caution in project development," said Sven Carstensen, chief executive of Bulwiengesa. The nation's property industry will ask the government for multi-billion euro support at a meeting with Chancellor Olaf Scholz in September, Reuters reported last week. "The situation is dramatic," said Jan-Marco Luczak, a parliamentarian who has pushed for a property tax cut demanded by industry.

Persons: Kai Pfaffenbach, Sven Carstensen, Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Marco Luczak, Marcus Gwechenberger, Bulwiengesa, Florian Schwalm, EY, Karim Rochdi, Tom Sims, Hugh Lawson Organizations: REUTERS, Bulwiengesa, Reuters, European Central Bank, Thomson Locations: Frankfurt, Germany, FRANKFURT, Frankfurt's

The figures underscore broader trends in global banking, with investment banks struggling as deals are paused, while higher interest rates are a boon to other divisions. Analysts expect the retail unit will also overtake the investment bank as the main revenue driver for the full year, overturning the investment bank's pole position over the previous three years. Investment banking revenue dropped 11% during the quarter, better than an expected 16% drop. Deutsche Bank set out in 2019 to reduce dependence on its volatile investment bank and rely instead on more stable businesses that serve companies and retail customers as a way to restore profitability. Chief Financial Officer James von Moltke said the shift to the retail bank as the largest breadwinner was "significant" because the perception of the lender had been dominated over years by the investment bank, and Deutsche was becoming more balanced.

Persons: James von Moltke, Deutsche, Jeffrey Epstein, Tom Sims, Matthias Inverardi, Friederike Heine, Jamie Freed Organizations: Deutsche Bank, Reuters Graphics, Reuters, Deutsche, Reuters Graphics Deutsche, U.S . Federal Reserve, U.S, Thomson Locations: FRANKFURT

DWS said the resolution of allegations was a top priority but that it couldn't comment on timeframes or outcomes. Under Democratic leadership, the SEC has pledged to crack down on "greenwashing" and the inflating of ESG credentials to attract investors. DWS had earmarked civil litigation provisions of 8 million euros ($8.84 million) by the end of last year. DWS has been in settlement negotiations with Frankfurt prosecutors over a multi-million euro fine, one of the people said. Earlier in July, Reuters and other media reported that German prosecutors were investigating DWS' former CEO Asoka Woehrmann, who in the past has called allegations "unfounded".

Persons: DWS, Goldman Sachs, Asoka Woehrmann, Chris Prentice, Tom Sims, John O'Donnell, Louise Heavens, Susan Fenton Organizations: U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, U.S, Deutsche Bank, Securities, SEC, Investigations, Democratic, Frankfurt, Reuters, Thomson Locations: FRANKFURT, Germany

☆ Exclusive: Airbus weighs separate boss for planemaking arm - sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( Tim Hepher | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/2] Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury takes part in a panel discussion at the International Air Transport Association's (IATA) Annual General Meeting in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S., October 4, 2021. That mirrors a structure under which the planemaking business technically owns the two smaller divisions, Helicopters and Defence & Space, following an internal merger. Airbus says it is no longer politically driven following an agreement to limit government interference a decade ago. But such a structure would draw inevitable comparisons with the era of former planemaking chief Fabrice Bregier, who left Airbus in 2018 after a power battle with then CEO Tom Enders. INTERNAL BALANCEHaving a visible planemaking leader would more closely echo rival Boeing (BA.N), each of whose divisions has its own boss.

Persons: Guillaume Faury, Brian Snyder, Faury, apppointed, Fabrice Bregier, Tom Enders, Bruno, Alberto Gutierrez, Tim Hepher, Mark Potter Organizations: International Air Transport, REUTERS, Airbus, Helicopters, Defence, Space, Airbus Helicopters, Boeing, Thomson Locations: Boston , Massachusetts, U.S, France, Germany, Spain, Ukraine

"I am worried because we are in a deep real estate crisis. And the real estate crisis needs clear, structured and downright radical steps to fix it," Mattner said. For years, Germany's property market has been seen as a safe haven, becoming a major draw for foreign investors. Recent data shows the stress the property sector is facing as the European Central Bank hikes interest rates, with little respite in sight. The fall is "catastrophic," said Andreas Beulich, head of the Federal Association of Independent Real Estate and Housing Companies.

Persons: Kai Pfaffenbach, Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Andreas Mattner, Mattner, Tim, Oliver Mueller, Mueller, Scholz, Danyal, Andreas Beulich, Mathias Duesterdick, ”, Andreas Naujoks, Simone Zapke, Emma, Victoria Farr, Matthias Inverardi, Sharon Singleton Organizations: REUTERS, German Property Federation, German Construction Industry Federation, Reuters Graphics, European Central Bank, Federal Association of Independent, Housing Companies, Centrum Group, ECB, Thomson Locations: Frankfurt, Germany, Germany's, Europe's, Kai Pfaffenbach FRANKFURT, Baden, United States, Sweden

☆ EU has to come clean on costs of green transition
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Pierre Briancon | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

European Union governments have agreed on the strategy, but they tend to paper over the short-term economic costs of the green transition. French economist Jean Pisani-Ferry has compared the impact of the green transition to an economic shock equivalent to the sharp spikes in oil prices in the 1970s. But unlike previous shocks triggered by geopolitical instability or trade wars, the green transition has been initiated and managed by governments, and largely financed by them. Germany looks like the country most able to afford the green transition, but its over-emphasis on regulation on environmental matters is running into fierce opposition. On Sunday Paolo Gentiloni, the EU economy commissioner, told the Financial Times that Europe will have to fund its own industrial green transition.

Persons: Jean Pisani, won’t, Pisani, Selma Mahfouz, Paolo Gentiloni, Bruno Le Maire, Christian Lindner, Keir Starmer, –, Francesco Guerrera, Oliver Taslic Organizations: Reuters, Union, Reuters Graphics Reuters, International Energy Agency, Ferry, Social Democrats, Greens, Opposition, Financial Times, French Finance, German, Labour Party, Twitter, Southern, European Commission, Deal, Zero, Thomson Locations: Europe, France, Italy, Germany, EU, Paris, Southern Europe, Spain, Greece

A lawyer for Woehrmann said DWS' internal investigations "did not reveal any evidence of misconduct on the part of my client". A spokesperson for prosecutors in Frankfurt, where DWS is headquartered, would only say an individual was targeted but would not name the person. DWS declined to comment on Woehrmann, but has said that it stands by its financial disclosures and fund prospectuses and is cooperating with investigators. At present, we cannot estimate when and how the proceeding of the Frankfurt Public Prosecutor’s Office will be concluded," DWS said. Woehrmann resigned as CEO of DWS last year after German prosecutors raided the offices of DWS and Deutsche Bank in Frankfurt over the allegations.

Persons: DWS's, Asoka Woehrmann, Patrizia, Woehrmann, DWS, BaFin, Matthias Inverardi, Miranda Murray, Sabine Wollrab, Susan Fenton, Louise Heavens Organizations: Deutsche Bank, Frankfurt Public, U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, Thomson Locations: FRANKFURT, Frankfurt

Management at Deutsche Boerse has touted the acquisition announced in April as key to its future strategy, combining SimCorp's investment management software with Deutsche Boerse's data. "The chemistry is right," Deutsche Boerse Chief Executive Officer Theodor Weimer told its investors in May. Deutsche Boerse hopes to take "significantly" more than 50% of the company. Deutsche Boerse said it had received approval from authorities in the United States, Denmark and Italy. "The remaining filing process with the EU commission is on track," Deutsche Boerse said.

Persons: Theodor Weimer, SimCorp's, Deutsche Boerse, Tom Sims, Friederike Heine, Rachel More Organizations: Denmark Deal, Deutsche, European, Management, Deutsche Boerse, Thomson Locations: U.S, Italy, Denmark, FRANKFURT, United States

☆ Reading the Tea Leaves on the End of the War in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( Thomas E. Ricks | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

The Russian invasion of Ukraine that began in February last year has led to the biggest war in Europe in many generations. Within a month of the war’s onset, it had already become “a [foul]-up of historic proportions,” as one veteran Ukraine correspondent recently put it. Five weeks after the invasion, Putin’s spokesman claimed that Ukraine’s military was “largely destroyed.”But a war intended to undercut Ukraine’s leaders and NATO has instead strengthened both. Less noticed in the West is how Russia’s war has also alienated former Soviet nations such as Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. Just before the war, the Scottish American historian Niall Ferguson wrote that Ukraine would receive “no significant military support from the West” and speculated on the location of Putin’s victory parade.

Persons: —, Don, Vladimir Putin, Izvestia, Niall Ferguson Organizations: Wagner, NATO, Scottish, West Locations: Ukraine, Europe, Russian, Rostov, mull, Bulgaria, Romania, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Scottish American, Ukrainian

FRANKFURT, June 22 (Reuters) - Deutsche Bank (DBKGn.DE) is drawing up plans to cut 10% of its 17,000 German retail jobs over the next few years as part of cost savings, a person with knowledge of the matter said on Thursday. The plans at Germany's largest bank come as Claudio de Sanctis prepares to take over the retail unit, known as the private bank division, on July 1. Deutsche Bank, which declined to comment on any cuts to retail jobs, has publicly said that it is identifying further cost savings and would be trimming jobs in certain areas to keep profits growing. The bank has been expected to continue to cut branches to curb expenses, Reuters has previously reported. S&P last month upgraded its outlook for the bank and said that the retail division has "considerable scope" to cut costs.

Persons: Claudio de Sanctis, Tom Sims, Matthias Williams, Madeline Chambers, Susan Fenton Organizations: Deutsche Bank, Deutsche, Reuters, Thomson Locations: FRANKFURT, Germany's, Germany

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