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☆ U.S. Treasury official says Iraq must act to avoid further action on banks
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Timour Azhari | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Employees walk at the headquarters of the Central Bank of Iraq in Baghdad, Iraq August 15, 2023. Despite the crackdown, the senior U.S. Treasury official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said there were still other Iraqi banks operating with risks "that must be remediated". Iraq's central bank governor has said Iraq is committed to implementing tighter financial regulations and combating the smuggling of dollars. The central bank did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Thursday. However, there were still "vested interests comfortable with the status quo that can create friction to driving change," the Treasury official said, without identifying who these were.

Persons: Ahmed Saad, Farhad Alaadin, Alaadin, Saddam Hussein, Mohammed Shia Al, Timour Azhari, Alexander Smith Organizations: Central Bank of, REUTERS, Treasury, U.S, Reuters, Iraqi, U.S . Federal, Iraq, U.S . Treasury, Thomson Locations: Central Bank of Iraq, Baghdad, Iraq, Iran, BAGHDAD, U.S, United States, Iraqi, Iranian, Tehran, Iraq's

☆ Italy's new bank tax should count as cost, ABI banking lobby
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

MILAN, Sept 12 (Reuters) - Italian banks should be able to deduct from their overall tax bill the one-off tax on income deriving from higher interest rates which the government plans to introduce, industry lobby ABI said on Tuesday. In comments prepared for a parliamentary hearing, ABI also said that the impact of lenders' government bond holdings on their income and capital should also be excluded from the tax. ABI warned the tax risked violating principles set by Italy's constitutional law. It added the sector faced challenges such as a rising cost of funding and a possible increase in unpaid loans driven by the higher rates. Reporting by Valentina Za and Giuseppe Fonte; editign Federico MaccioniOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Valentina Za, Giuseppe Fonte, editign Federico Maccioni Organizations: ABI, Thomson

☆ First Abu Dhabi Bank executive director says it prefers bonds to stocks right now
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailFirst Abu Dhabi Bank executive director says it prefers bonds to stocks right nowOliver Kettlewell, executive director at First Abu Dhabi Bank, says there are "ominous signs" in the stock market despite a "rip-roaring" year so far.

Persons: Oliver Kettlewell Organizations: Abu Dhabi Bank, Abu Locations: Abu Dhabi

"Iran initially wanted direct access to the funds but in the end agreed to having access via Qatar," said a senior diplomat. Reuters pieced together this account of previously unreported details about the extent of Qatari mediation of the secret talks, how the deal unfolded and the expediency that motivated both parties to clinch the prisoner swap deal. Ties between the U.S. and Iran have been at boiling point since Donald Trump quit a nuclear deal with Iran as U.S. president in 2018. Reaching another nuclear deal has gained little traction since then, as President Joe Biden prepares for the 2024 U.S. election. Then president Trump in 2018 reimposed the sanctions when he pulled Washington out of a deal under which Iran had restricted its nuclear program.

Persons: Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al Khulaifi, Iran Dr, Ali Bagheri, Antony Blinken, Siamak Namazi, Morad Tahbaz, hasn’t, Jin, Washington, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Biden, Blinken, Iran’s, Trump, Iran Robert Malley, Abram Paley, Ali Bagheri Kani, Mehdi Safari, Foreign Ministry Mohammed Al, Khulaifi, Malley, Paley, Kani, Al Khulaifi, Laila Bassam, Samia Nakhoul, William Maclean Organizations: Regional Affairs, Political Affairs, Qatar News Agency, Handout, REUTERS Acquire, Qatar, Qatar DUBAI, U.S, Reuters, British, Islamic, Washington, Doha, Iranian, State Department, Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The State Department, Democrat, Qatari, TRANSIT QATAR, Iran, The Central Bank of, U.S ., State, Foreign Ministry, Thomson Locations: Islamic Republic, Iran, Tehran, Qatar Gulf, DOHA, Qatar, U.S, Tehran’s, Emad Sharqi, Western, Gulf, South Korea, Washington, Switzerland, Seoul, Doha, Iranian, The Central Bank of Iran, Beirut

☆ Iran, US on verge of prisoner swap under Qatar-mediated deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-10 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

Reuters pieced together this account of previously unreported details about the extent of Qatari mediation of the secret talks, how the deal unfolded and the expediency that motivated both parties to clinch the prisoner swap deal. 'You can build trust'The U.S. administration has not commented on the timing of the funds transfer. Ties between the U.S. and Iran have been at boiling point since Donald Trump quit a nuclear deal with Iran as U.S. president in 2018. Reaching another nuclear deal has gained little traction since then, as President Joe Biden prepares for the 2024 U.S. election. Then president Trump in 2018 reimposed the sanctions when he pulled Washington out of a deal under which Iran had restricted its nuclear program.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Siamak Namazi, Morad Tahbaz, hasn't, Jin, Washington, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Biden, Blinken, Trump, Iran Robert Malley, Abram Paley, Ali Bagheri Kani, Mehdi Safari, Foreign Ministry Mohammed Al, Khulaifi, Malley, Paley, Kani, Al Khulaifi Organizations: Capitol, Iranian, National, Washington D.C, U.S, Reuters, British, Islamic, Washington, Doha, State Department, Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The State Department, Democrat, Qatari, Iran, The Central Bank of, U.S ., State, Foreign Ministry Locations: Iranian, Washington, United States, Qatar, Iran, U.S, Tehran's, Emad Sharqi, Islamic Republic, Western, Gulf, South Korea, Switzerland, Tehran, Seoul, Doha, The Central Bank of Iran

☆ Iran, US on Verge of Prisoner Swap Under Qatar-Mediated Deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-10 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +9 min

Persons: Parisa Hafezi, Andrew Mills, Antony Blinken, Siamak Namazi, Morad Tahbaz, hasn’t, Jin, Washington, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Biden, Blinken, Iran’s, Trump, Iran Robert Malley, Abram Paley, Ali Bagheri Kani, Mehdi Safari, Foreign Ministry Mohammed Al, Khulaifi, Malley, Paley, Kani, Al Khulaifi, Laila Bassam, Samia Nakhoul, William Maclean Organizations: Reuters, U.S, British, Islamic, Washington, Doha, Iranian, State Department, Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The State Department, Democrat, Qatari, TRANSIT QATAR, Iran, The Central Bank of, U.S ., State, Foreign Ministry Locations: Andrew Mills DUBAI, DOHA, Qatar, Iran, U.S, Tehran’s, Emad Sharqi, Islamic Republic, Western, Gulf, South Korea, Washington, Switzerland, Tehran, Seoul, Doha, Iranian, The Central Bank of Iran, Beirut

☆ Czech banks hit as central bank ceases paying interest on reserves
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The Czech National Bank (CNB) decided on Thursday to cancel paying interest on banks' mandatory minimum reserves from Oct. 5, a move to reduce the costs of implementing monetary policy. The decision follows a similar move by the European Central Bank in July. Komercni Banka said its stipulated amount of required minimum reserves for the current maintenance period stood at approximately 19.6 billion Czech crowns ($861.12 million). Banks have been required to keep a portion of liabilities at the central bank as reserves. Mandatory minimum reserves are not used as a monetary policy instrument but can act as a liquidity buffer to ensure the smooth flow of interbank payments, the central bank said.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Komercni Banka, MONETA, Banks, Jason Hovet, Jan Lopatka, Andrew Cawthorne Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Money Bank, Prague Stock Exchange, Czech National Bank, European Central Bank, Analysts, Komercni, KB, Thomson Locations: Komercni Banka, Komercni, BKOM.PR, Czech, Prague

☆ Bank of America says this stock should benefit as student loan payments restart and borrowers refinance
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Yun Li | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Student loan borrowers are set to restart their payments after a three-year reprieve, and Bank of America said SoFi Technologies could be a big beneficiary from an uptick in refinance activity. "We believe the uptick in deposits could also be a sign of increased student loan refinance activity," Bank of America analyst Mihir Bhatia said in a note. "SOFI should benefit from higher student loan refinances given its strong position in the student loan refi market." As a result, millions of borrowers in October will make their first student loan payment since before the Covid-19 pandemic hit. SOFI YTD mountain SoFI Bank of America said SoFi had about 60% market share in private student loan refi in recent quarters, up from 40% in the pre-pandemic era.

Persons: Mihir Bhatia, refinances, SoFi, originations, — CNBC's Michael Bloom Organizations: Bank of America, SoFi, SoFI Bank of America Locations: Tuesday's

☆ India invites bids for asset valuer for IDBI Bank
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

The logo of IDBI Bank is seen on the facade of its headquarters in Mumbai, India, April 18, 2023. REUTERS/Niharika Kulkarni/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsNEW DELHI, Sept 1 (Reuters) - The Indian government has invited bids to appoint an asset valuer for IDBI Bank (IDBI.NS) as it seeks to sell a majority stake of the lender. The asset valuer will have to conduct a valuation of the lender’s assets, and provide assistance in the sale process of IDBI Bank, according to a government document. India is looking to offload its 30.48% stake in IDBI Bank, while Life Insurance Corp (LIC) (LIFI.NS) of India will sell a 30.24% shareholding. Presently, the Indian government and LIC collectively own about 95% in IDBI Bank.

Persons: Niharika Kulkarni, LIC, Nikunj Ohri, Louise Heavens Organizations: IDBI, REUTERS, IDBI Bank, Life Insurance, Thomson Locations: Mumbai, India, DELHI, IDBI Bank

Coins and banknotes of China's yuan are seen in this illustration picture taken February 24, 2022. Country Garden, China's largest private developer by sales, did not immediately respond to Reuters request for comment. Lower deposit rates will partially offset various pressures on banks' narrowing net interest margins - a key gauge of profitability, said Nicholas Zhu, a banking analyst at Moody's. "The impact of the deposit rate cut is material, given that close to three-quarters of Chinese banks' liabilities are deposits," Zhu said. China's mortgage loans totalled 38.6 trillion yuan ($5.29 trillion) at the end of June, representing 17% of banks' total loan books.

Persons: Florence Lo, Nicholas Zhu, Zhu, Ziyi Tang, Ryan Woo, Wang Jing, Davide Barbuscia, Anne Marie Roantree Organizations: REUTERS, HK, Industrial, Commercial Bank of China, China Construction Bank Corp, Agricultural Bank of China, Reuters, Industrial Bank Co Ltd, China Bohai Bank Co Ltd, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, Beijing, China, Washington, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, New York, Lincoln

☆ Exclusive: Deel, a $12 billion HR startup, is contemplating an acquisition of competitor Papaya Global
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Ben Bergman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

In the letter, Bouaziz says Deel "may contemplate an acquisition offer" of Papaya Global. "The Deel leadership team and I have been following Papaya Global for quite some time now with great interest," Bouaziz wrote to Papaya's board of directors. A spokesperson for Papaya Global said in a statement that the company is not for sale. Papaya Global is an Israel-based payments processing startup that last raised at a $3.7 billion valuation in 2021 in a round led by Insight Partners and Tiger Global. He also floated the possibility of an eventual full takeover of Papaya Global, which would require the approval of its board.

Persons: Philippe Bouaziz, Bouaziz, Deel, Eynat Guez, Dovi Frances, Guez, Francis, onboarding, Andreessen Horowitz, Emerson, Alexis Ohanian, Elad Gil, Y, Goldman Sachs, Adam Schiff, Julie Su Organizations: Insight Partners, Tiger Global, Global, Coatue Management, Nike, Labor Locations: San Francisco, Israel

Pheu Thai's Srettha Thavisin attends a press conference, after Thailand's parliament voted in favour of his prime ministerial candidacy, in Bangkok, Thailand August 22, 2023. "The picture is not all wine and roses," Thailand's central bank chief Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput said in recorded remarks played on Wednesday. Tourism, a major driver of the Thai economy, has managed a robust recovery, although arrivals and tourist spending are still below pre-pandemic levels, data shows. $96 BLN BUDGETIn this first address since winning office, Srettha on Wednesday vowed to provide solutions to fix Thailand's economy, among other measures, and manage the budget transparently. But its ability to execute will depend on the military backers that Pheu Thai has allied with to be able to form a government.

Persons: Pheu, Srettha Thavisin, Chalinee, Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput, Kobsidthi Silpachai, Srettha, Goldman Sachs, Poon Panichpibool, Sanan Angubolkul, Orathai Sriring, Christina Fincher Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Tourism, Krung Thai Bank, Thai Chamber of Commerce, Thomson Locations: Bangkok, Thailand, Rights BANGKOK, Asia's, China, Thai

Currently, the Western Alliance Bank High Yield Savings Account is the highest-yield savings account on Raisin. You can earn 5% or more with several savings accounts, including the Milli Savings Account, Betterment Cash Reserve, Newtek Bank High Yield Savings Account, and more. A high-yield savings account is a type of bank account that offers a higher interest rate than a traditional savings account. High-Yield Savings Account BasicsA savings account is an interest-earning bank account. A good high-yield savings account will likely be an account where you can grow your savings without unnecessary hassles."

Persons: you've, you'd, APY, you'll, Raisin, Milli, hasn't, FNBO, Primis, Synchrony, SoFi, Banks, Tania Brown, Roger Ma, Sophia Acevedo, Mykail James, BoujieBudgets.com, that's, it's, we've Organizations: Chevron, FDIC, Reading Chevron, Western Alliance, Mint, Milli, Mobile, National Bank of, Newtek Bank, Newtek, Popular Bank, Primis Bank, Virginia, Synchrony Bank, SoFi Bank, Green, Barclays, Barclays Bank, Member, Apple, Discover Bank, FDIC Discover, Discover, Better Business, Securities and Exchange, SEC, Cash, BBB, Raisin, UFB, Popular, Popular Direct, Google, First National Bank of, Primis, Synchrony, Security and Exchange, Savings, Better, Barclays doesn't, Securities and Exchange Commission, Federal, Federal Reserve, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, National Credit Union Administration, Governors, Finance Locations: National Bank of Omaha, Axos, Maryland, First National Bank of Omaha, California, Raisin, Chevron

☆ High food prices put populism on India’s table
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( Shritama Bose | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Prices of tomatoes, onions, potatoes, pulses and spices – all the basic ingredients - are soaring as the world’s most populous country heads towards key state polls later this year and national ones soon after. It increases the temptation for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party to indulge in some fiscal populism. Reuters Graphics Reuters GraphicsA surge in food prices drove annual retail inflation to 7.44% in July, the most in 15 months. Elections will be held this year in five of India’s 28 states, including heavyweight constituencies Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. India banned the export of non-basmati rice on July 20 to clamp down on rising domestic prices of the grain.

Persons: Narendra Modi’s, Modi, Nirmala Sitharaman, Una Galani, Thomas Shum Organizations: Reuters, Bharatiya Janata Party, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Madhya, Bloomberg, India’s, IDBI, India’s Ministry of Finance, Reserve Bank, Thomson Locations: MUMBAI, Nepal, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Karnataka, New Delhi, India

Pros Check mark icon A check mark. Earn a higher interest rate with qualifying activities Check mark icon A check mark. Earn up to 15% cash back at local retailers if you use a SoFi debit card Check mark icon A check mark. No-fee overdraft coverage if you overdraw up to $50 Check mark icon A check mark. High bank account bonuses at other banksOther banks have high bank account bonuses, too.

Persons: Chase, You'll, BMO Harris Organizations: Chase, Chase Bank, Morgan Wealth Management, Morgan Securities, SoFi Bank, Green, Reading Chevron, Chase Secure, Citibank, Citi, Huntington Bank, New Huntington Bank, BMO, U.S . Bank, Residents, U.S, Bank, Bank Standard Savings, Products, Secure Banking, Savings

☆ Iraq set in 'battle' against dollar smugglers, c.bank governor says
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( Timour Azhari | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Last month, the U.S. Treasury Department and the Fed barred 14 Iraqi banks from conducting dollar transactions as part of a wider crackdown on dollar smuggling to Iran via the Iraqi banking system, U.S. officials said. Allaq said that action related to transfers from 2022, before a new platform that aimed to improve transparency went live. He said the central bank was undertaking a review of the banking sector and introducing new regulations that he said would likely see some banks close. "It would be very normal in the coming period to see a reduction in the (number of private banks)," he said. Since January the central bank has asked banks to provide detailed information on senders and recipients of transfers via an online platform.

Persons: Ali al, Allaq, Timour Azhari, Angus MacSwan Organizations: Reuters, U.S . Treasury Department, Fed, U.S . Federal, U.S, Thomson Locations: Iraq, Iran Baghdad, Washington, Tehran Banking, BAGHDAD, Iran, Turkey, Syria, United States, U.S, Tehran, Iraq's

☆ Dubai rises on higher oil prices; FAB drags on Abu Dhabi
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( Shamsuddin Mohd | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed/File PhotoAug 11 (Reuters) - Stock markets in Dubai rose on Friday as upbeat demand growth forecasts from OPEC and the International Energy Agency (IEA) lifted oil prices, while lender FAB weighed on Abu Dhabi's index. In Dubai, the main share index (.DFMGI) added 0.4% after falling for four consecutive sessions. Emirates NBD Bank (ENBD.DU), Dubai's largest lender, rose more than 3% while toll operator Salik Company (SALIK.DU) was up 2% after reporting second quarter earnings. Emaar Properties (EMAR.DU), Dubai's largest listed real estate firm, was also up more than 0.7% the day after reporting second-quarter earnings. In Abu Dhabi, the benchmark index (.FTFADGI) dropped 0.3%, for a third negative session in a row, pressured by a 1.1% fall for the country's largest lender First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB.AD) and a 1.6% drop in Alpha Dhabi Holding (ALPHADHABI.AD).

Persons: Hamad I Mohammed, Brent, Shamsuddin, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: Bahrain Bourse, REUTERS, Stock, International Energy Agency, FAB, IEA, Organization of Petroleum, Emirates NBD Bank, Salik, Abu Dhabi Bank, Alpha, Thomson Locations: Bahrain, Manama, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Alpha Dhabi, Bengaluru

☆ Wall Street says buy the dip on India's Nifty 50 — and Morgan Stanley names its favorite stock
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Ganesh Rao | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Bank of America has revealed its year-end price target for India's Nifty index, forecasting that it will reach 20,500 points by December 2023. The Nifty 50 benchmark index is composed of the market capitalization-weighted average of 50 of the largest Indian companies. The Wall Street bank's price target points towards a 4.5% upside from its current level of 19,625. Bank of America (BofA) said the change in outlook from its U.S. economics team was a key driver behind this prediction. The Wall Street bank said the Indian lender's asset quality remains robust and margins have experienced only minor declines despite higher funding costs.

Persons: Shah, Udit, Nifty's, Patrick Harker, Morgan Stanley's, Morgan Stanley, Sumeet Kariwala, Michael Bloom Organizations: of America, Bank of America, Federal Reserve, Philadelphia Federal, ICICI Bank, New York Stock Exchange Locations: United States, U.S, China

☆ Uday Kotak is wanting for the market’s support
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Shritama Bose | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Uday Kotak plans to remain on the board of the $44 billion lender carrying his name after he steps down as CEO in December. India’s regulator will bear that in mind as it also decides if someone from inside Kotak Mahindra Bank (KTKM.NS) can succeed the 64-year-old. In the past, the regulator has booted out private bank chiefs for poor management of bad loans and overhauled a bank board where it perceived succession planning was poor. Whatever regulators decide for Uday Kotak and his bank, having the market onside will be helpful all around. Follow @ShritamaBose on TwitterCONTEXT NEWSThe Reserve Bank of India is nudging Kotak Mahindra Bank to select someone outside the lender to succeed billionaire founder Uday Kotak as the next CEO, Bloomberg reported on July 31, citing unnamed sources.

Persons: Uday Kotak, Jamie Dimon, Kotak, Jay, Una Galani, Thomas Shum Organizations: Reuters, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Reserve Bank of India, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Kotak, Reuters Graphics, nudging, Mahindra Bank, Bloomberg, Thomson Locations: MUMBAI, Mumbai

☆ Morgan Stanley names 3 high-conviction global stock ideas, says one could soar 40%
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( Ganesh Rao | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Morgan Stanley has identified three Asia Pacific stocks as "high conviction" and actionable trade ideas. The bank said the three stock ideas highlight "actionable, high-conviction calls" made by its equity research team in the preceding week. However, it cautioned that investors should not interpret these stock ideas as portfolios. Treating 'Three Actionable Ideas' ideas as a portfolio will subject you to the risk of losing all or a substantial portion of your investments," the bank said. Morgan Stanley said its price target was probability-weighted, giving 30% to its bull case and 60% to its base case scenarios.

Persons: Morgan Stanley, Renesas Electronics Morgan Stanley, FactSet, Macquarie, ICICI Bank Morgan Stanley, Michael Bloom Organizations: Asia, Electronics, Australia's Macquarie Group, India's ICICI Bank, Renesas Electronics, Macquarie Group, ICICI Bank Morgan, ICICI Bank Locations: Japan, U.S

☆ Citigroup's Asia family office clients poised to grow 25% in 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( Xie Yu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha/File PhotoHONG KONG, Aug 4 (Reuters) - Citigroup's (C.N) Asia family office business expects a 25% increase in clients this year, the U.S. bank's regional head of its family office advisory business said, as Singapore and Hong Kong vie to attract more wealth. Global banks have been beefing up family office arms in Asia, as demand continues to surge among rich Asians wanting to set up private investment vehicles and plan for business succession. Citi in 2020 turned its Asia family office service into a full-fledged unit combining advisory, family governance, legacy planning, philanthropy, investment and deal-making capabilities for ultra-wealthy clients. "We have seen great interest from China, Hong Kong, the Philippines, India, and Indonesia in settling their family offices here (Hong Kong)," Ong said, adding there was also growing interest from Middle Eastern clients. There is scale and Singapore is becoming more discerning about the type of family offices it wants to attract," Ong said.

Persons: Athit, HONG KONG, Faye Ong, Ong, Faye, Xie Yu, Sumeet Chatterjee, Jamie Freed Organizations: Citi, REUTERS, Reuters, Global, Accenture, Thomson Locations: Bangkok, Thailand, HONG, Asia, U.S, Singapore, Hong Kong, China , Hong Kong, Philippines, India, Indonesia, Hong

☆ State Bank of India first-quarter profit nearly triples to all-time high
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( Siddhi Nayak | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A man checks his mobile phones in front of State Bank of India (SBI) branch in Kolkata, India, February 9, 2018. Net profit was at a record 168.84 billion rupees ($2.04 billion) for the quarter ended June 30, compared with 60.68 billion rupees a year earlier. Rivals HDFC Bank (HDBK.NS) and ICICI Bank (ICBK.NS) have reported double-digit net interest income growth for the fiscal first quarter. The net NPA ratio rose to 0.71% from 0.67% in the prior three months. The bank expects its net NPA ratio to fall to 0.5% in the next few quarters, Khara said.

Persons: Chowdhuri, Dinesh Kumar Khara, Khara, SBI's, Siddhi Nayak, Sonia Cheema Organizations: State Bank of India, REUTERS, Rivals HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Reserve Bank of India, Siddhi, Thomson Locations: Kolkata, India, MUMBAI, BENGALURU

☆ 'Stark contrast' to China: Morgan Stanley upgrades India stocks and shares 4 top picks
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( Weizhen Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Morgan Stanley upgraded Indian stocks to "overweight" from "equal weight," citing a strong profit outlook and the country's attractiveness to investors in a "multipolar world." India's situation is in "stark contrast to that in China," the bank said in its Aug. 2 note. Morgan Stanley downgraded Chinese stocks to equal weight in the same note. Stock picks While Indian stock valuations "overshot somewhat" last October, it's "less extreme" now, Morgan Stanley said. Morgan Stanley added two Indian stocks to its focus list: Maruti Suzuki : Morgan Stanley said the automaker is set to benefit from a higher per-capita income in India; an expansion in market share; and an improving product mix.

Persons: Morgan Stanley, capex, Maruti Suzuki, Larsen, Toubro, — CNBC's Michael Bloom Organizations: Maruti, ICICI Bank, Hindustan Aeronautics Locations: China, India, Saudi Arabia

U.S. financial authorities last week barred 14 Iraqi banks from conducting dollar transactions as part of a wider crackdown on dollar smuggling to Iran via the Iraqi banking system, Iraqi central bank officials have said. Iraqi central bank (CBI) Governor Ali al-Allaq said on Wednesday the institution was following up on the issue and he had no indication the U.S. would sanction more Iraqi banks. He also noted that other banks were able to cover the market's needs for dollar transactions, with the 14 sanctioned banks representing just 8% of external transfers. The 14 banks have been banned from undertaking dollar transactions but can continue to use Iraqi dinars and other foreign currencies. The latest U.S. sanctions, along with previous ones on eight banks, have left nearly a third of Iraq's 72 banks blacklisted, two Iraqi central bank officials said.

Persons: Ali al, Allaq, Haider al, Shamma, Ahmed Rasheed, Timour, Richard Chang Organizations: U.S . Treasury Department, New York Fed, CBI, U.S ., Thomson Locations: BAGHDAD, Iraqi, United States, Iran, U.S, Tehran, Iraq's, Baghdad

U.S. financial authorities last week barred 14 Iraqi banks from conducting dollar transactions as part of a wider crackdown on dollar smuggling to Iran via the Iraqi banking system, Iraqi central bank officials have said. U.S. State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel said the measures were not sanctions, as they have been referred to by Iraq's Central Bank governor. Iraqi central bank (CBI) Governor Ali al-Allaq said on Wednesday the institution was following up on the issue and he had no indication the U.S. would impose "sanctions" on more Iraqi banks. The 14 banks have been banned from undertaking dollar transactions but can continue to use Iraqi dinars and other foreign currencies. The latest U.S. measures, along with previous curbs on eight banks, have left nearly a third of Iraq's 72 banks blacklisted, two Iraqi central bank officials said.

Persons: Vedant Patel, Patel, Ali al, Allaq, Haider al, Shamma, Ahmed Rasheed, Timour, Richard Chang, Daniel Wallis Organizations: . State Department, Iraq's Central Bank, Treasury Department, Federal Reserve Bank of New, Central Bank of, U.S . Treasury Department, New York Fed, CBI, U.S ., Thomson Locations: BAGHDAD, Iraqi, United States, Iran, Federal Reserve Bank of New York, U.S, Tehran, Iraq's, Baghdad

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