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☆ S&P 500 rises to 20-month high with a soft landing in sight. Can investors finally relax?
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-09 | by ( Michael Santoli | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

The S & P 500 , which had consolidated with a low-volatility sideways slide for three weeks, nudged to a new 20-month high just above 4600, almost precisely a 20% year-to-date gain. Just because the S & P 500 is at 4600 and Federal-funds futures markets project high odds of several rate cuts next year, it doesn't mean the former is reliant on the latter. Yet — just relax — in seven of the past 12 years, the S & P 500 went on to surpass this year-ahead analyst composite target. It's pretty popular to cast doubt on the achievability of the consensus 11.8% forecast S & P 500 earnings growth for 2024. A broadening beyond 2023's growth leadership is necessary for further S & P 500 gains.

Persons: YTD, Jerome Powell, Powell, John Butters, Scott Chronert Organizations: Federal, Fed, Bank of America, Wall, Merck, Pfizer, Citi, Treasury

☆ China's state banks seen swapping and selling dollars for yuan - sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

U.S. Dollar and Chinese Yuan banknotes are seen in this illustration taken January 30, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSHANGHAI, Dec 5 (Reuters) - China's major state-owned banks were seen swapping yuan for U.S. dollars in the onshore swap market and selling those dollars in the spot market to support the yuan on Tuesday, two sources with knowledge of the matter said. The state bank actions come at a time the Chinese yuan strengthened 2.55% to the dollar in November for the best month this year. Chinese state banks often act on behalf of the country's central bank in the foreign exchange market, but they would also trade on their own behalf. Big banks were spotted doing a similar trade late last month, helping the yuan's recovery against a broadly weaker U.S. dollar, Reuters reported.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Tom Westbrook, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Shanghai, Thomson

☆ Big bank executives will assure lawmakers the industry's crisis is over, KBW CEO Thomas Michaud predicts
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Stephanie Landsman | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Big bank CEOs will likely convey deposits and earnings are stable to lawmakers on Wednesday, according to a major financial services executive. Thomas Michaud, CEO of Stifel company Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, thinks the hearing before the Senate Banking Committee will successfully provide assurance to Washington and Wall Street. "The targeted approach to change deposit insurance to reduce the 'too big to fail' thinking, so depositors don't run like that. He thinks action is needed to keep mid-sized banks competitive with the big banks — starting with lifting Federal Deposit Insurance Corp coverage limits for small businesses. "If deposit insurance reform in my opinion doesn't happen, there's going to be tremendous pressure on those [mid-size] banks to consolidate," Michaud said.

Persons: Thomas Michaud, Keefe, Jamie Dimon, Goldman Sachs, David Solomon, " Michaud, He's, Michaud Organizations: Wall, . Banking, Silicon Valley Bank, Signature Bank, First, Federal Deposit Insurance Corp Locations: Washington, Silicon, First Republic

For its biggest banks, however, there's a hitch: a generation of professional front-line staff have little experience with rising interest rates. The 38 members, which include credit dealers and data scientists, work to improve coordination between retail and wholesale divisions, as higher rates are expected to fuel trading activities. Still, if higher rates are new to most bankers, so they are for their clients, who have for years enjoyed rock bottom rates in Japan. "Almost no front-line bankers have experienced short-term rates above 0.5% as Japan last saw such rates in the 1990s," he said. "I think there are a lot of scepticism among front-line bankers over whether they can really increase their lending rates."

Persons: Masahiro Minami, they've, Izuru Kato, Kato, Satoru Yamamoto, Atsushi Kikuchi, Tokyo Tanshi's Kato, Makiko Yamazaki, Ritsuko Shimizu, David Dolan Organizations: MUFG Bank, TOKYO, Resona Holdings, Reuters, Bank, Mitsubishi, Daiwa Securities, Mizuho Financial, Mizuho, Thomson Locations: Japan, Tokyo

☆ Wells Fargo CEO warns of severance costs of nearly $1 billion in fourth quarter as layoffs loom
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Hugh Son | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Charlie Scharf, CEO, Wells Fargo, speaks during the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills, California on May 2, 2023. speaks during the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills, California on May 2, 2023. Wells Fargo CEO Charlie Scharf said Tuesday that low staff turnover means the company will likely book a large severance expense in the fourth quarter. That expense is an accrual for worker layoffs that Wells Fargo expects to make next year, according to a bank spokeswoman. Wells Fargo needs to get "more aggressive" managing headcount because employee attrition has slowed this year, Scharf added. Wells Fargo shares fell more than 1% on Tuesday.

Persons: Charlie Scharf, Wells, Scharf, Goldman Sachs, Wells Fargo, Morgan Stanley, James Gorman, Read Organizations: Milken Institute Global Conference, Street, U.S, Workers, Wells Locations: Wells Fargo, Beverly Hills , California, New York, U.S

☆ Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan on higher interest rates, the yield curve and economic outlook
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | 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 EmailBank of America CEO Brian Moynihan on higher interest rates, the yield curve and economic outlookBrian Moynihan, Bank of America CEO, joins 'Squawk on the Street' to discuss how the changing rate environment is impacting the big banks, how much longer the balance sheet will be a point of conversation, and much more.

Persons: Brian Moynihan Organizations: Email Bank of America, Bank of America

☆ Watch CNBC's full interview with Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan on rates, economic outlook and more
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | 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 EmailWatch CNBC's full interview with Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan on rates, economic outlook and moreBrian Moynihan, Bank of America CEO, joins 'Squawk on the Street' to discuss how the changing rate environment is impacting the big banks, how much longer the balance sheet will be a point of conversation, and much more.

Persons: Brian Moynihan Organizations: Bank of America

When there’s a global crisis, wealthy countries tend to find money. That was the case in the United States when big banks were bailed out to soften a global financial crisis. But the climate crisis? This weekend, Vice President Kamala Harris visited the United Nations climate summit in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, and promised $3 billion for the Green Climate Fund, which benefits poorer nations. One of the big tests facing this summit, known as COP28, is whether it will fare any better than earlier climate talks at shoring up anything close to the money that’s needed.

Persons: Kamala Harris, John Kerry, Biden’s Organizations: United Arab, Green Climate Fund, Biden, Walmart, Pepsi, McDonalds Locations: United States, Ukraine, United Nations, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

The moon rises over the Toronto city skyline as seen from Milton, Ontario, Canada, January 23, 2016. REUTERS/Mark Blinch/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsTORONTO, Dec 4 (Reuters) - Canadian banks had a mixed fourth quarter but a common theme underlining all the reports was the rise in bad loan provisions, signalling that lenders were strapping in for a shaky economy. Impaired loans related to residential mortgages, real estate and construction were also higher from the prior quarter, indicating that the banks were also being cautious when considering underwriting new loans. He noted that despite the mixed results, the banks reported healthy capital levels, giving investors assurance that the banks remain resilient. Reuters Graphics($1 = 1.3559 Canadian dollars)Reporting by Nivedita Balu in Toronto; Editing by Mark PorterOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Mark Blinch, Verecan, Colin White, Dave McKay, Mike Archibald, Nivedita Balu, Mark Porter Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Bank of Canada, BOC, Royal Bank of Canada, CIBC, National Bank, Scotiabank, BMO, RBC, Reuters Graphics Reuters, AGF Investments, Reuters Graphics, Thomson Locations: Toronto, Milton , Ontario, Canada

Spokespeople for the banks declined to provide comment ahead of the hearing or did not respond to requests for comment. Kevin Fromer, president of the Financial Services Forum, which represents the CEOs, said he expected Basel to be a focus. Big bank CEOs have been appearing before Congress for several years after the 2007-09 financial crisis and subsequent scandals thrust the industry into Washington's crosshairs. Former Wells Fargo CEO Tim Sloan, meanwhile, resigned in March 2019 after stumbling during a hearing about the bank's regulatory woes. But after years of playing defense, the CEOs are expected to be more assertive, this time backed by Republicans critical of red tape.

Persons: Andy Cecere, William Demchak, Jamie Dimon, Jane Fraser ,, Brian Moynihan, William Rogers, Wells, Bank of America's Brian Moynihan, Citi's Jane Fraser, Wells Fargo's Charles Scharf, Goldman Sachs, David Solomon, Morgan Stanley's James Gorman, Ronald O'Hanley, BNY Mellon's Robin Vince, Sherrod Brown, Brown, Kevin Fromer, Dimon, Elizabeth Warren, Tim Sloan, meanwhile, Tim Scott, Pete Schroeder, Nupur Anand, Tatiana Bautzer, Saeed Azhar, Lananh Nguyen, Michelle Price, Nick Zieminski Organizations: U.S . Bancorp, PNC Financial Services Group, JPMorgan Chase, Co, Citigroup, Jane Fraser , Bank of America, Truist Financial, JPMorgan, Bank of America, Bank of America's, Democratic, Silicon Valley Bank, Financial Services, Big, Former Wells, Republicans, Thomson Locations: WASHINGTON, Wells Fargo, Silicon, Basel, New York

☆ Bank of England drags Bagehot into the shadows
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Liam Proud | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

That is no longer tenable, in part because of reforms to bank regulation that shifted activity from traditional lenders to financial market players. These days, the institutions in need of urgent liquidity are just as likely to be pension funds, insurers or hedge funds. The British central bank’s initial ideas make sense, but only solve part of the problem. The central bank can short-circuit the panic by opening the credit taps. Central banks are only just starting to grapple with what it means to be a lender of last resort in that context.

Persons: Walter Bagehot’s, Andrew Hauser, BoE, WALTER, Gurney, Peter Thal Larsen, Streisand Neto, Thomas Shum Organizations: Reuters, Bank of England, Reuters Graphics Reuters, U.S, Treasury, Federal Reserve, Pensions, . Treasury, Citadel, Millennium Management, City of, U.S . Federal, Gurney & Company, Victorian, Thomson Locations: British, City, City of London, Basel, Overend, Lombard

Signage is seen outside of a Metro Bank in London, Britain, May 22, 2019. REUTERS/Hannah McKay/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 30 (Reuters) - Metro Bank (MTRO.L) on Thursday announced sweeping cost-cutting plans aimed at bolstering its finances, which could see the embattled British lender lay off 20% of its staff and axe some of its biggest customer perks including seven-day opening hours. The lender expects to take a lower-than-expected one-off restructuring charge of between 10 million pounds and 15 million pounds in 2023. Metro Bank did not immediately respond to a request for clarification on the precise number of roles at risk, but the lender employs around 4,000 people, according to its latest annual report. It is also reviewing its seven-day opening and extended store hours and will "selectively streamline lending" to focus on relationship banking to maximise risk-adjusted returns.

Persons: Hannah McKay, Jaime Gilinski, Daniel Frumkin, outflows, Yadarisa, Sinead Cruise, Elizabeth Howcroft, Rashmi Aich, Sherry Jacob, Phillips, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Metro Bank, REUTERS, Metro, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Colombian, Bengaluru

☆ UK’s Metro Bank and Lloyds join Barclays in announcing job cuts weeks before Christmas
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Hanna Ziady | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

London CNN —Staff at UK banks face layoffs in the lead-up to Christmas in what one labor union called “disgraceful” timing. Struggling Metro Bank said Thursday that it expected to slash headcount by 20% as part of efforts to save £50 million ($63 million) a year. But Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at stockbroker IG, said becoming more like the big banks Metro Bank sought to displace would “sorely diminish” the lender’s appeal. “Far from being a serious challenger to the UK’s established banks, Metro continues to flounder,” he wrote in a note. Metro Bank also said new stock issued as part of an emergency equity raise last month to shore up its finances would begin trading Thursday.

Persons: “, Daniel Frumkin, Chris Beauchamp, ”, Charles Schwab, Dominic Hook, upskilling, Andrew Coombs, Jaime Gilinski Bacal Organizations: London CNN — Staff, Metro Bank, Lloyds, Barclays, Metro, Citigroup, Vice Media, Continental, Unite, ” Citi, Bank of England Locations: United Kingdom

☆ Where Will CD Rates Go in 2024?
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Mallika Mitra | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +7 min

Interest rates that banks pay on certificates of deposit are closely tied to short-term interest rates set by the Federal Reserve. Now that the inflation rate has come down, many investing pros see two possible outcomes for interest rates in 2024: one in which the Fed has little choice but to cut rates steeply, and another in which the Fed can cut rates modestly. Either scenario would eventually result in CD rates decreasing, since rates on CDs tend to quickly follow Fed moves. Where will CD rates go in 2024? But if investors are correct that rate cuts are coming, those high CD rates will come down over the next few years, too.

Persons: Mallika Mitra, “, ”, Lili Vasileff, Leslie Falconio, “ They’re, you’ll, you’re, Jeremy Keil, ” Keil, Keil, “ You’ve, Ally Organizations: Federal Reserve, UBS, Wall, Federal Credit Union, Minnequa Works Credit Union, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, National Credit Union Administration Locations: Greenwich, Conn, U.S, Milwaukee, APYs

☆ Big banks should have been investing in fintech growth businesses, says Jim Cramer
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Jim Cramer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

In this videoShare Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailBig banks should have been investing in fintech growth businesses, says Jim Cramer'Mad Money' host Jim Cramer looks at financials and the sector's impact on the broader market.

Persons: Jim Cramer Locations: financials

Analyst Brad Capuzzi's $8 price target is 43% above where the stock closed on Monday afternoon. "Shares have substantially outperformed this year; catalyzed by the exit of the logistics business & newfound emphasis on profitability," wrote analyst Clarke Jeffries. Bank of America's Vivek Arya lifted his price target to $1,200, or more than a 26% increase from the stock's Monday close of $950.24. Herbert upgraded Boeing to outperform from sector perform and lifted his price target to $275 from $200. "We believe we are in the early stages of a significant shift in sentiment on BA stock," analyst Ken Herbert wrote.

Persons: Jefferies, Piper Sandler, Brad Capuzzi's, Capuzzi, Lisa Kailai Han, Goldman Sachs, Keith Horowitz, Horowitz, Goldman, — Lisa Kailai Han, Clarke Jeffries, Jeffries, Bernstein, Peter Weed, Weed, UBS downgrades ChargePoint, Robert Jamieson, Jamieson, bode, Timothy Arcuri, America's Vivek Arya, Arcuri, Arya, Herbert, Ken Herbert, John Hecht, Fred Imbert Organizations: CNBC, Tuesday's, RBC, Boeing, UBS, Citi Citi, UBS downgrades, UBS doesn't, Broadcom, VMWare, Bank of America, Bank, America's, RBC Capital Markets, —, Jefferies Locations: underperform, LendingClub, Goldman Sachs

While high interest rates have boosted the banks' lending margins, residential mortgages, auto loans and commercial real estate loans have slowed as consumers and businesses pulled back. With interest rates forecast to remain high, renewal of the mortgages will squeeze household budgets. Banks are also rethinking lending to industries sensitive to high interest rates, from condo development to office space. "We want to make sure we have some kind of confidence when a project is going to go ahead," said Victoria Girardo, Canadian Western Bank's (CWB.TO) VP in real estate lending. "That is creating liquidity issues across the real estate developer space.

Persons: Carlos Osorio, Ebrahim Poonawala, Mike Rizvanovic, Rizvanovic, Banks, Victoria Girardo, Nigel D'Souza, Nivedita Balu, Mark Porter Organizations: Bank of Montreal, REUTERS, Rights TORONTO, U.S, National Bank, Bank, Veritas Investment Research, Thomson Locations: Toronto , Ontario, Canada, Toronto

Back in June 2022, big banks approved 15.4% of small business loan applications. All those factors have added up to a grim environment if you’re a small business seeking a loan. Without two years of tax returns, however, she didn’t qualify for many small business loans. Online lenders were quick to offer their services, but the terms were too strict, requiring weekly repayments or interest rates up to 40%. “For a small business that is not only intimidating, it’s almost impossible," she said.

Persons: Banks, Cheyenne Smith, Smith, ”, Shantell Chambliss, Chambliss, “, she’s, Nate Hodge, He’s, Hodge, “ It’s, ” Jen Rose, Rose Organizations: Federal Reserve, National Federation of Independent Business, Bee, Comerica Bank, Comerica Locations: Salt Lake City , Utah, Dakota, Richmond , Va, Capital, Dallas , Texas

With the Canadian economy showing signs of a slowdown, money markets are pricing in the first interest rate cuts since March 2020 as soon as April, which would bring down mortgage costs. Still, more home buyers took out fixed-rate mortgages in September compared with a year ago, eschewing variable rate mortgages where the interest rate varies based on current market rates. Since then, the central bank has raised the key interest rate to a 22-year high of 5% in July. The share of fixed rate loans among five-year and three-year mortgages rose to 68% in August compared with 32% a year ago. In the first three weeks of November, 79% of mortgage seekers in Canada opted for a fixed mortgage, said Hanif Bayat, CEO of financial data firm Wowa Leads.

Persons: you've, Macklem, Sophie Tremblay, Hanif Bayat, Wowa, Carolyn Rogers, Rogers, Ryan Sims, William Coyle, Nivedita Balu, Denny Thomas, Deepa Babington Organizations: TORONTO, Bank, Bank of Canada, Montreal, NEW, National Bank analysts, BoC, The Mortgage Group Inc, Bank of, Thomson Locations: Canada, Niagara, Huntsville, Toronto

The 2022 climate law has accelerated investments in clean-energy projects across the United States. It has also delivered financial windfalls for big banks, lawyers, insurance companies and start-up financial firms by creating an expansive new market in green tax credits. The law, signed by President Biden, effectively created a financial trading marketplace that helps smaller companies gain access to funding, with Wall Street taking a cut. The law created a wide range of tax incentives to encourage companies to produce and install solar, wind and other low-emission energy technologies. But the Democrats who drafted it knew those incentives, including tax credits, wouldn’t help companies that were too small — or not profitable enough — to owe enough in taxes to benefit.

Persons: Biden Locations: United States

☆ The Big Bank With a $15 Billion Conundrum in China
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Josh Mitchell | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

HSBC’s investment in Bank of Communications dates to 2004. Photo: REUTERS/StringerHSBC Holdings has a $15 billion headache in China—a big stake in a local lender that it can’t easily sell and that could require a big write-down. Long after most other Western banking giants have exited similar positions, HSBC has held on to its roughly 19% position in Bank of Communications , an investment that dates back to 2004. HSBC, Europe’s largest bank by market value, has said the stake is strategically important for its ambitions to grow in Asia.

Organizations: Bank of Communications, REUTERS, Stringer HSBC Holdings, HSBC Locations: China, Bank, Asia

☆ Citigroup managing director sues over sexual harassment
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Jonathan Stempel | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The Citigroup Inc (Citi) logo is seen at the SIBOS banking and financial conference in Toronto, Ontario, Canada October 19, 2017. REUTERS/Chris Helgren/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNEW YORK, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Citigroup (C.N) was sued on Monday by a managing director who said a former top equities banker subjected her to sexual harassment and abuse including death threats. Lindsey also accused Citigroup of tolerating a "notoriously hostile" environment in its equities division. Lindsey's lawsuit also seeks damages under New York's Adult Survivors Act for an alleged sexual assault by another Citigroup executive following a December 2007 holiday party. The case is Lindsey v Citigroup Global Markets Inc, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No.

Persons: Chris Helgren, Ardith Lindsey, Mani Singh, Lindsey, Singh, Lindsey's, Frank Underwood, Kevin Spacey, Jeremiah Iadevaia, Jonathan Stempel, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: Citigroup Inc, Citi, REUTERS, Citigroup, North America Markets, U.S, Lindsey, Citigroup Global Markets Inc, Court, Southern District of, Thomson Locations: Toronto , Ontario, Canada, New York, Americas, Manhattan, Singh, Southern District, Southern District of New York

☆ A financially independent entrepreneur says there's an overlooked but 'incredible opportunity' for young investors to buy businesses right now — and they're not as expensive to acquire as you may thin
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-19 | by ( Kathleen Elkins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

He started with an "index-first strategy," he told Insider, and invested up to 80% of his earnings into low-cost index funds in the early 2010s. While index funds are ultimately what catapulted him to financial independence in the first place, he wouldn't necessarily go that route if he had to start from scratch today. "I'm still very pro low-cost index funds for almost everyone," he said. Lower returns mean index funds won't grow as much, and investors potentially have to save and contribute more to hit their goals. "I think business ownership is really where it's going to be for the next 10 to 20 years."

Persons: Grant Sabatier's, Sabatier, Charlie Munger, you've, boomer Organizations: Business, Fidelity, Federal Reserve, FedEx, SBA, Chase, Bank of America Locations: Morningstar

☆ Stocks may crash 30%, a recession looks imminent, and commercial real estate is a bubble about to burst, market prophet says. Here are Gary Shilling's 8 best quotes from a new interview.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-19 | by ( Theron Mohamed | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Market prophet Gary Shilling issued a raft of dire warnings to investors in an interview this week. Stocks may crash 30%, a recession is imminent, and commercial real estate is a bubble about to burst, he said. AdvertisementStocks could crater by 30%, the US economy is careening toward recession, and commercial real estate is a bubble about to burst, a legendary market prophet warned this week. "I think the biggest bubble right now is commercial real estate. This isn't of the magnitude of the subprime-mortgage bonanza, but I think it is a bubble which is beginning to crack."

Persons: Gary Shilling, Shilling, —, Julia La Roche, I've, they've, we're, John Paulson Organizations: Service, Federal Reserve

☆ UK lender Nationwide reports record first-half member benefits
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Lawrence White | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Signage is seen outside of a Nationwide Building Society in London, Britain, May 22, 2019. REUTERS/Hannah McKay/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Nov 17 (Reuters) - Nationwide Building Society (NBS.L) reported record benefits for its customers in the first half of its financial year, including a 344 million pound ($425.94 million) payout and 885 million pounds of incentives on products below market rates. The country's largest building society made 100 pound transfers into the current accounts of 3.4 million members in May, paying longstanding customers some of its profits from rising interest rates. The member-owned lender, which competes with Britain's big banks but does not have to prioritise shareholder returns, on Friday said profit for the six months to Sept. 30 rose to 989 million pounds from 969 million pounds a year earlier. ($1 = 0.8076 pounds)Reporting by Lawrence White Editing by David GoodmanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Hannah McKay, Lawrence White, David Goodman Organizations: Building Society, REUTERS, Nationwide, Thomson Locations: London, Britain

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