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☆ Dow futures rise more than 100 points after UBS buys Credit Suisse to stem bank crisis: Live updates
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-19 | by ( Hakyung Kim | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq-100 futures climbed 0.3%. UBS agreed to buy Credit Suisse for 3 billion Swiss francs, or $3.2 billion, with the combined bank to have $5 trillion in assets. But traders may be anxious for more to be done by regulators to stem the slide in regional banks. The SPDR Regional Banking ETF (KRE) tumbled 14% last week. "I think there's there's been an overreaction to the regional banks ... And that likely represents an opportunity," said Hogan.

☆ UBS to take over Credit Suisse, assume up to 5 bln Swiss francs in losses
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The deal includes 100 billion Swiss francs ($108 billion) in liquidity assistance for UBS and Credit Suisse from the Swiss central bank. In that eventuality, UBS would assume the first 5 billion francs, the federal government the next 9 billion francs, and UBS would assume any further losses, the government said. Credit Suisse Additional Tier 1 shares with a nominal value of around 16 billion francs ($17.2 billion) will be written down completely after the Swiss government provided support for UBS' takeover of Credit Suisse, FINMA said. Authorities had been scrambling to rescue Credit Suisse, among the world's largest wealth managers, before financial markets reopened on Monday. Reuters Graphics Reuters GraphicsThe Swiss government said that it was also giving UBS a guarantee of 9 billion Swiss francs "assume potential losses" from assets as part of the transaction.

March 19 (Reuters) - Talks over rescuing Credit Suisse (CSGN.S) rolled into Sunday as UBS AG (UBSG.S) sought $6 billion from the Swiss government to cover costs if it were to buy its struggling rival, a person with knowledge of the talks said. The guarantees UBS is seeking would cover the cost of winding down parts of Credit Suisse and potential litigation charges, two people told Reuters. Credit Suisse, UBS and the Swiss government declined to comment. U.S. President Joe Biden's administration moved to backstop consumer deposits while the Swiss central bank lent billions to Credit Suisse to stabilise its shaky balance sheet. There were multiple reports of interest for Credit Suisse from other rivals.

☆ Top UBS executives defend their 'emergency rescue' of Credit Suisse. Here's what comes next.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-19 | by ( Rebecca Ungarino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

UBS sought to reassure investors that the Credit Suisse deal wouldn't disrupt long-term strategy. UBS agreed to acquire Credit Suisse on Sunday in a deal arranged by the Swiss government. Credit Suisse has faced crisis after crisis in recent years, from Archegos to a spying scandal. "These events could alter the course of not only European banking but also the wealth management industry more generally," Georgiou said. "It's an outcome that we may not have hoped for," Hamers said of the Credit Suisse deal.

The terms of the deal will see Credit Suisse shareholders receive 1 UBS share for every 22.48 Credit Suisse shares they hold. "This acquisition is attractive for UBS shareholders but, let us be clear, as far as Credit Suisse is concerned, this is an emergency rescue. The Swiss National Bank pledged a loan of up to 100 billion Swiss francs ($108 billion) to support the takeover. UBS initially offered to buy Credit Suisse for around $1 billion Sunday, according to multiple media reports. It reported a full-year net loss of 7.3 billion Swiss francs for 2022 and expects a further "substantial" loss in 2023.

March 18 (Reuters) - UBS Group AG (UBSG.S) is seeking government guarantees of about $6 billion for a potential takeover of Credit Suisse Group AG (CSGN.S), a person with knowledge of the discussions told Reuters on Saturday. The guarantees would cover the cost of winding down parts of Credit Suisse and potential litigation charges, the source said. Credit Suisse was valued at the equivalent of about $8 billion at the close on Friday. Deutsche Bank AG is also interested in acquiring parts of Credit Suisse, the first source said. Bloomberg earlier reported the German lender's interest in parts of Credit Suisse.

☆ Credit Suisse faces fateful weekend. Will UBS step up with a rescue bid?
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-18 | by ( Mark Thompson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

London CNN —The fate of Credit Suisse could be decided in the next 36 hours after a torrid week for Switzerland’s second biggest bank. But by Friday, analysts were speculating that a full-blown rescue would be needed, and reports began to swirl of a possible takeover by its biggest Swiss rival, UBS (UBS). The FT said the boards of UBS and Credit Suisse were expected to meet separately over the weekend. Credit Suisse and UBS both declined to comment to Reuters. “BlackRock is not participating in any plans to acquire all or any part of Credit Suisse, and has no interest in doing so,” a BlackRock spokesperson told CNN.

☆ This fund manager shorted Credit Suisse — and he's sticking with his bet
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-18 | by ( Ganesh Rao | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Barry Norris, fund manager at Argonaut Capital, said Saturday morning that he still expects Credit Suisse 's stock to become worthless. "If this happens we would expect [Credit Suisse] equity holders to get zero, deposit holders guaranteed and probably but not certain that bond holders will be made whole." Norris' Argonaut Absolute Return Fund fund delivered 11.3% in returns last year amid a year of losses for the broader stock market. Credit Suisse has had tumultuous few years, battling various scandals and controversies . Credit Suisse had invested heavily in Greensill and marketed its funds to clients, but the firm collapsed in 2021, leaving Credit Suisse and its customers with $1.7 billion in losses and reputational damage.

☆ UBS mulls takeover of Credit Suisse with possible Swiss government guarantees
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-18 | by ( John O'Donnell | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The people said that UBS was coming under pressure from the Swiss authorities to carry out a takeover. UBS, Credit Suisse, and Switzerland's financial regulator FINMA declined to comment when approached by Reuters. Regulators have urged Credit Suisse Group to pursue a deal with Swiss rival UBS as the troubled bank began a make-or-break weekend after some rivals grew cautious in their dealings with it. The turmoil at Credit Suisse has put another dent in the Swiss reputation for financial stability on which UBS depends. Any tie-up would be one of the biggest since the global financial crisis.

☆ UBS reportedly seeks $6 billion in government guarantees for Credit Suisse takeover
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-18 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The $6 billion in government guarantees UBS is seeking would cover the cost of winding down parts of Credit Suisse and potential litigation charges, two people told Reuters. One of the sources cautioned that the talks to resolve the crisis of confidence in Credit Suisse are encountering significant obstacles, and 10,000 jobs may have to be cut if the two banks combine. Credit Suisse, UBS and the Swiss government declined to comment. U.S. President Joe Biden's administration moved to backstop consumer deposits while the Swiss central bank lent billions to Credit Suisse to stabilize its shaky balance sheet. UBS was under pressure from the Swiss authorities to carry out a takeover of its local rival to get the crisis under control, two people with knowledge of the matter said.

☆ UBS, regulators race to seal Credit Suisse deal as soon as Saturday, Financial Times reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

March 18 (Reuters) - The Swiss National Bank and Swiss regulator FINMA have told their international counterparts they regard a deal with UBS Group (UBSG.S) as the only way to prevent a collapse in confidence in Credit Suisse Group (CSGN.S), the Financial Times reported on Saturday. UBS, Credit Suisse and key regulators are rushing to finalise a deal on the merger of the two Swiss banks as soon as Saturday evening, the FT reported, citing people familiar with the matter. UBS and Credit Suisse did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Reuters earlier reported that UBS was coming under pressure from the Swiss authorities to carry out a takeover of its local rival to get the market turmoil surrounding Credit Suisse under control. The plan could see the Swiss government offer a guarantee against the risks involved, while Credit Suisse's Swiss business could be spun off.

☆ U.S. authorities weighing in on possible Credit Suisse-UBS deal- Bloomberg News
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

March 18 (Reuters) - U.S. authorities are working with Swiss counterparts to broker a deal for UBS AG (UBSG.S) to buy all or part of Credit Suisse Group AG (CSGN.S), Bloomberg News reported on Saturday citing people familiar with the matter. U.S. officials might seek to weigh in on matters which can impact the finals terms of the deal between the banks, according to the report. The plan could see the Swiss government offer a guarantee against the risks involved, while Credit Suisse's Swiss business could be spun off. The Biden administration has moved to backstop consumer deposits while the Swiss central bank loaned billions to Credit Suisse to stabilize its shaky balance sheet. Reporting by Akanksha Khushi in Bengaluru; Editing by Chizu NomiyamaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ UBS seeks Swiss backstop in any Credit Suisse deal - Bloomberg News
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

March 18 (Reuters) - UBS Group AG (UBSG.S) is asking the Swiss government for a backstop if it were to buy Credit Suisse Group AG (CSGN.S), Bloomberg News reported on Saturday. UBS is discussing scenarios in which the government would take on certain legal costs or other specific losses in any deal, the report said, citing people with knowledge of the matter. Under one likely scenario, the deal would involve UBS acquiring Credit Suisse to obtain its wealth and asset management units, while possibly divesting the investment banking division, the report added. UBS Group and Credit Suisse did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment. Reuters reported earlier that Credit Suisse is weighing several survival options as regulators urge the investment bank to pursue a deal with UBS.

Companies Signature Bank FollowSINGAPORE, March 17 (Reuters) - Oil prices firmed on Friday after a meeting between Saudi Arabia and Russia calmed markets amid strong China demand expectations, but were headed for their biggest weekly falls since December as a banking crisis rocked global financial and oil markets. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude went up by 21 cents to $68.53 a barrel, after closing 1.1% higher in the previous session. China's demand rebound will be positive for oil prices if upcoming data shows a good recovery of the country's economy, said analyst Tina Teng of CMC Markets. However, contagion risks among banks are still keeping investors on edge, curbing their appetite for assets such as commodities, as they fear a further rout could trigger a global recession and cut oil demand. These issues regarding inflation, the central bank's rate hikes, and confidence in financial systems cannot be settled quickly," Teng said.

☆ Oil steadies as investors take stock of banking crisis
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( Florence Tan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SINGAPORE, March 17 (Reuters) - Oil prices were little changed on Friday after a meeting between Saudi Arabia and Russia calmed markets, but crude benchmarks were still headed for a second weekly fall after a banking crisis sparked a sell-off in global financial markets this week. Brent crude futures edged up 2 cents to $74.72 a barrel by 0133 GMT, having snapped three days of losses to settle 1.4% higher on Thursday. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was at $68.33 a barrel, down 2 cents after closing 1.1% higher in the previous session. Contagion risks among banks are still keeping investors on edge, curbing their appetite for assets such as commodities as they fear a further rout could trigger a global recession and cut oil demand. "The sudden failure of SVB and Signature Bank forced a rethink about the health of the broader economy and spooked markets," JPMorgan analysts said in a note.

☆ Credit Suisse shares slide 10% as the shine of its rescue package wears off
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( Karen Friar | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Credit Suisse stock slid almost 10% Friday, pulling back after it jumped as much as 20% the previous day. The declines came even after the SNB agreed to loan $54 billion to the Swiss banking giant. DBRS Morningstar cut Credit Suisse's credit score Thursday, amid concerns it may default on its debt. Credit Suisse is facing a pile of financial troubles, and investors are concerned it may default on its debt. DBRS Morningstar cut Credit Suisse's credit score to BBB on Thursday.

Companies Signature Bank FollowSINGAPORE, March 17 (Reuters) - Oil prices rebounded by about 1% on Friday after a meeting between Saudi Arabia and Russia calmed markets amid strong China demand expectations, after a banking crisis sparked a sell-off in global financial and oil markets this week. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude climbed 78 cents to $69.13 a barrel, after closing 1.1% higher in the previous session. China's demand rebound will be positive for oil prices if upcoming data shows a good recovery of the country's economy, said analyst Tina Teng of CMC Markets. However, contagion risks among banks are still keeping investors on edge, curbing their appetite for assets such as commodities, as they fear a further rout could trigger a global recession and cut oil demand. These issues regarding inflation, the central bank's rate hikes, and confidence in financial systems, cannot be settled quickly," Teng said.

☆ Bank fears escalate as Wall Street wonders: Who’s next?
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | by ( Allison Morrow | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Credit Suisse has been flailing for years, hurt by risk-management missteps that tarnished its reputation with clients and investors, and cost several top executives their jobs. The question on everyone’s mind is: What will happen to Credit Suisse, and who will be the next to fall? Fitch Ratings and S&P on Wednesday both downgraded the bank’s credit rating over concerns that depositors could pull their cash despite federal intervention. PacWest Bank (PACW) was down 12%, and shares of other regional banks fell again, too. Bottom line: Credit Suisse will probably need to be taken over (the most likely outcome, according to JPMorgan) or bailed out.

☆ Wall Street down as Credit Suisse sparks fresh bank selloff
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-15 | by ( David Carnevali | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

I don’t think we are at 2008-2009 stages by any means when it comes to the contagion stuff," said Themis Trading co-manager of trading, Joe Saluzzi. Still, Credit Suisse troubles piled more pressure on U.S. banking sector after U.S. authorities relieved investors with emergency measures to prevent contagion after the collapse of SVB Financial (SIVB.O) and Signature Bank (SBNY.O). Some investors believe aggressive U.S. interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve caused cracks in the financial system. Shares of Western Alliance Bancorp (WAL.N) and bank and brokerage Charles Schwab Corp (SCHW.N) bucked the trend to close in the green. Big U.S. banks including JPMorgan Chase & Co (JPM.N), Citigroup (C.N) and Bank of America Corp (BAC.N) dropped, dragging on the S&P 500 banking index (.SPXBK).

☆ Swiss government holds talks on options to stabilize Credit Suisse - Bloomberg News
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

March 15 (Reuters) - Swiss authorities and Credit Suisse Group AG are discussing ways to stabilize the bank, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter. Credit Suisse leaders and government officials have talked about options that range from a public statement of support to a potential liquidity backstop, the reportsaid. Other suggested potential moves for Credit Suisse could be a potential separation of their Swiss unit and a tie-up with their larger Swiss competitor, UBS Group AG (UBSG.S), the report said, adding that it's unclear which, if any of these steps will actually be executed. Switzerland is under pressure from at least one major government to intervene quickly on Credit Suisse, a source familiar with the situation told Reuters, after the Swiss bank led a rout of European bank stocks on Wednesday. Credit Suisse shares dropped by as much as 30.8%, leading a 7% fall in the European banking index .SX7P, while five-year credit default swaps (CDS) for the flagship Swiss bank hit a new record high, reviving fears of a broader threat to the financial system.

☆ Credit Suisse is in a negative feedback loop with stubborn costs and weak revenue
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-15 | by ( Hugh Son | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailCredit Suisse is in a negative feedback loop with stubborn costs and weak revenueCNBC's Hugh Son and Mike Santoli join 'Power Lunch' to discuss the complications facing Credit Suisse, similarities between Credit Suisse's bank run and that of Silicon Valley Bank, as well as the likelihood of Credit Suisse receiving a bailout from the Swiss government.

☆ Toblerone forced to replace iconic Matterhorn on packaging
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-06 | by ( Hanna Ziady | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

The peak-shaped treat made with honey and almond nougat will also lose the iconic Matterhorn mountain from its packaging after Mondelez (MDLZ), which makes Toblerone, decided to shift some manufacturing to the Slovakian capital of Bratislava. “For legal reasons, the changes we’re making to our manufacturing mean we need to adjust our packaging to comply with Swissness legislation. We have removed our Swissness claim from the front of the Toblerone pack and changed our description ‘of Switzerland’ to ‘established in’,” a Mondelez spokesperson told CNN. Mondelez’s new packaging includes “a distinctive new Toblerone typeface and logo” and the signature of Theodor Tobler, the spokesperson added. Tobler created the chocolate bar in 1908 together with his cousin Emil Baumann, according to the Mondelez website.

☆ Explainer: How to correctly re-export German tanks
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

The following explains defence export rules in Germany and other countries and the way such deals have been handled previously:HOW DO GOVERNMENTS CORRECTLY RE-EXPORT GERMAN TANKS? The same goes for cases where the weapons may be used to wage a war of aggression or the re-export approval might violate Germany's obligations under international law. As defence exports are a touchy issue in Germany, foreign countries usually do not directly submit a formal request for re-export to the German authorities. If not, the foreign country abstains from submitting a formal re-export request, and no diplomatic harm is done. GERMANY'S HIGH HURDLES FOR DEFENCE EXPORTSGermany has one of the toughest defence export regimes in the world – largely due to its bloody pre-1945 past.

☆ A Q&A With Klaus Schwab, the Founder of the World Economic Forum
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The past year brought war in Europe, surging inflation and an energy crisis, all while the world is still fighting the Covid-19 pandemic and related disruptions. Company executives are evaluating global supply chains and considering what they could make closer to home. The Wall Street Journal’s editor in chief, Matt Murray, and Journal reporter Thomas Gryta sat down with World Economic Forum founder Klaus Schwab in November as he prepared for his 53rd annual confab in Davos, Switzerland this month. Mr. Schwab, age 84, launched the WEF as a young academic in 1971, but it is now an independent international organization under the Swiss government, similar to the Red Cross. Edited excerpts of the conversation follow.

☆ Swiss central bank posts biggest loss in its 116-year history
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The Swiss national flag hangs from the Federal Palace, Switzerland's parliament building, in Bern, Switzerland, on Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. The Swiss National Bank cut its inflation forecast and showed no inclination of moving off its crisis-era settings, citing the francs strength and mounting global risks. Photographer: Stefan Wermuth/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesThe Swiss National Bank on Monday reported a loss of 132 billion Swiss francs ($143 billion) for the 2022 financial year, citing preliminary figures. It represents the biggest loss in the central bank's 116-year history and equates to roughly 18% of Switzerland's projected gross domestic product of 744.5 billion Swiss francs. Its previous record loss was 23 billion francs in 2015.

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