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[1/2] The headquarters of Wirecard AG in Aschheim near Munich, Germany, September 22, 2020. REUTERS/Michael DalderMUNICH/BERLIN, Dec 6 (Reuters) - Former Wirecard executives go on trial on Thursday, two years after the collapse of the payments company that produced Germany's biggest post-war fraud scandal and sent shockwaves through the country's political and financial establishment. Wirecard, which started out processing payments for pornography and online gambling, rose to be worth $28 billion and displaced Commerzbank (CBKG.DE) in Germany's DAX blue-chip index. But in June 2020, Wirecard was forced to admit that 1.9 billion euros were missing from its balance sheet. In the ructions that followed Wirecard's demise, the head of German financial regulator BaFin resigned and the head of Germany's accounting watchdog also stepped down.

[1/2] The logo of Swiss bank Credit Suisse is seen in Zurich, Switzerland October 26, 2022. Credit Suisse declined to comment on the market moves. Credit Suisse rights for its 2.24 billion Swiss francs ($2.4 billion) share issue were down 8%, having reversed initial gains. Credit Suisse bonds also weakened, with additional tier 1 dollar bonds down over 4 cents and many sinking below the levels seen during a sell off in the bank's shares and bonds in early October, Tradeweb data showed. Battered by a series of scandals and mounting losses, Credit Suisse last month embarked on a turnaround plan.

☆ Volatility in yuan spurs bets China will widen its band
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

SHANGHAI, Nov 30 (Reuters) - As macroeconomic risks induce unprecedented levels of volatility in China's yuan, investors are betting that authorities may widen the currency's tight trading band for first time since 2014 to allow market forces greater say. Day-to-day yuan volatility has been as high as 16% on some days in October, compared with a tame 1% to 4% range in the months and years before. Policy sources have told Reuters they have considered widening the trading band over the past few years to show their commitment to long-term market reforms. Rising volatility in yuan-rouble trading earlier this year prompted the central bank to double the trading band for the pair to 10% in March. Yet, most analysts who think a band widening is due also do not think it is imminent.

Nov 28 (Reuters) - Euro zone government bond yields were higher on Monday after rare protests in China over the country's strict zero-COVID policies clouded the outlook for global growth and inflation. "The market is more concerned about the impact on inflation than the impact on growth," he added. Germany's 10-year government bond yield was up 4 basis points (bps) at 2.008%, after rising 12 bps on Friday. The gap between the 2-year and 10-year government bond yields rose to -20 bps. Italy's 10-year yield rose 8 bps to 3.94% pushing the closely watched spread between Italian and German 10-year yields wider by 5 bps to 191 bps.

☆ The West is struggling to set an oil price cap that hurts Russia
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-25 | by ( Julia Horowitz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Putin said Thursday that Western plans to introduce oil price caps would have “grave consequences” for energy markets. The oil price cap aims to amend that policy. Shipping services and insurance could be provided to tankers transporting Russian oil — so long as it’s purchased at or below the price cap established by Western nations. “But reality will be different.”Some analysts think the price cap will ultimately be less important than Europe’s oil embargo. “Due to the EU oil embargo and the planned price cap on oil from Russia, oil production there is likely to be significantly curtailed,” Commerzbank said in a note to clients.

[1/2] The logo of Deutsche Bank is pictured on an office of the company in London, Britain July 8, 2019. REUTERS/Simon DawsonSummarySummary Companies Wuermeling says banks should not tie their handsSees German banks maintaining capital ratiosFRANKFURT, Nov 23 (Reuters) - German banks should avoid making multi-year promises to their shareholders despite bumper profits this year as the outlook for the economy is worsening, Bundesbank board member Joachim Wuermeling told Reuters. "If you are bound by such promises, even though the environment has changed radically, you get into a very difficult dilemma." Wuermeling said German banks had only modestly raised their payout ratios in their own plans and most should manage to preserve their capital ratios even after taking into account large dividend increases in absolute terms. ($1 = 0.9740 euros)Reporting by Francesco Canepa and Frank Siebelt Editing by Tomasz JanowskiOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Hungary cenbank leaves base rate steady at 13%, as expected
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( Gergely Szakacs | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SummarySummary Companies Base rate remains at 13%, quick deposit at 18%Follows government move to cap bank deposit ratesOne might ask what representative rate is in Hungary -analystBUDAPEST, Nov 22 (Reuters) - The National Bank of Hungary (NBH) left its base rate unchanged at 13% (HUINT=ECI) on Tuesday, as expected, with inflation on track to scale a 26-year-high in 2023 and exceeding the bank's 2% to 4% policy target range even a year later. read moreAt 1301 GMT, the forint was trading at 408 per euro, unchanged from levels before the announcement. Economists at brokerage Erste Investment said Monday's government move could channel funds from institutional investors and wealthy private clients towards government bonds. "The measure can be slightly positive for OTP (OTPB.BU), however this step impairs the monetary transmission of the central bank," the analysts said. Reporting by Gergely Szakacs and Krisztina Than; Editing by Nick MacfieOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Rewe drops ads with German soccer association over armbands row
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

BERLIN, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Major grocery chain Rewe has scrapped its advertising campaign with the German Football Association after soccer's global governing body cracked down on players wearing 'OneLove' armbands in support of diversity at the Qatar World Cup. Several soccer associations had said that their team captains would wear the armband in Qatar, where homosexuality is illegal. The German Football Association said on Tuesday associations backing the armband were faced with "extreme blackmail," and it had dropped plans for players to wear it because it was unfair for them to shoulder the consequences. Separately, Deutsche Telekom (DTEGn.DE) on Tuesday said it planned to talk with the German Football Association about the armbands controversy. The German Football Association (DFB) is the world's largest, with more than 7 million active members.

☆ China property stocks surged amid warnings of weak reality, high expectations
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

China's housing prices fell in October due primarily to falling prices in less developed, so-called Tier-3 cities, according to Goldman Sachs analysis of official data. Future Publishing | Future Publishing | Getty ImagesBEIJING — China's real estate sector isn't yet poised for a quick recovery, despite a rally this month in stocks of major property developers. Last week, property developer stocks surged after news the central bank and banking regulator issued measures that encouraged banks to help the real estate industry. A drawn-out recoveryAnalysts differ on when China's property market can recover. "I think the real estate sector will become lesser of a drag to the economy in 2023," Tommy Wu, senior China economist at Commerzbank AG, said Wednesday.

☆ Ex-Bundesbank boss Weidmann to be nominated as Commerzbank supervisory board head
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BERLIN, Nov 19 (Reuters) - Former Bundesbank chief Jens Weidmann is to be a candidate to become chairman of Commerzbank's (CBKG.DE) supervisory board after Helmut Gottschalk decided not to stand for a new term in the role, the German bank said on Saturday. It said shareholder representatives of the Presiding and Nomination Committee had responded positively to Gottschalk's recommendation to propose Weidmann for election to the supervisory board at the annual general meeting in May 2023. "It is also intended that he will subsequently be elected the successor of Helmut Gottschalk as chairman," the bank said in a statement. Weidmann, an economist, quit last year as head of the Bundesbank after a decade of fruitless opposition to the European Central Bank's aggressive stimulus policy of sub-zero interest rates and massive government bond purchases. Reporting by Madeline Chambers; Editing by Mike HarrisonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Commerzbank expects an increase in bad loans, CEO says, but no disaster
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-18 | 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 EmailCommerzbank expects an increase in bad loans, CEO says, but no disasterCommerzbank CEO Manfred Knof discusses the bank's outlook and the possibility of a recession.

☆ Commerzbank chief says he's not preparing for disaster, sees a mild recession
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-18 | by ( Hannah Ward-Glenton | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A "mild recession" is on the cards, according to Commerzbank CEO Manfred Knof. Commerzbank CEO Manfred Knof says the bank has prepared for an uplift in nonperforming loans, but the situation is "definitely not a disaster or default issue" as a "mild recession" is likely in the cards. "We have already made provisions but still at the moment we don't see a lot of issues ahead of us," Knof told CNBC's Annette Weisbach at the European Banking Congress in Frankfurt Friday. Nonperforming loans are bank loans likely to be repaid late or not in full and are also known as "bad debt." The chief economist at Berenberg, Holger Schmieding, told CNBC that consumer confidence had "plunged so badly that the recession will likely not be shallow."

Before the U.S. data the euro, sterling and the Swedish crown had already risen sharply against the U.S. dollar as traders assessed a slew of economic data, including UK and euro zone job figures plus German economic sentiment. In Europe traders were also eying encouraging data such as German economic sentiment ZEW index, which rose in November. Jane Foley, head of FX strategy at Rabobank in London also pointed to other headlines supporting risk currencies against the dollar. The dollar index , which measures the currency against six counterparts including sterling and euro, was last down 0.46% at 106.162 after earlier touching 105.34, its lowest point since August. The Swedish crown rose sharply against the U.S. dollar after data showed inflation in Sweden rose less than expected in October.

☆ Analysis: Investors face expensive quest for year-end cash and safe assets
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-14 | by ( Yoruk Bahceli | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Money markets too suggest securing cash and quality assets investors need to make a smooth transition into 2023 will be expensive. But analysts noted year-end is still 1-1/2 months away and the spread tends to widen in late November as demand for cash rises. The risk is any unexpected news emerging as liquidity thins further in December, requiring investors to reconsider positioning. BofA said it now sees year-end German repo 6 percentage points below the overnight rate, which it said would still make it the most expensive on record for investors borrowing bonds then. "It's still early days, but (last year's repo pricing) would probably be the best case already in terms of year-end pricing," Commerzbank's Leister said.

☆ Oil jumps by 3% as China eases COVID curbs
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-11 | by ( Ahmad Ghaddar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Nov 11 (Reuters) - Oil prices jumped by about 3% on Friday after health authorities in China, the top global crude importer, eased some of the country's heavy COVID curbs. Brent crude futures rose $2.86, or 3.1%, to $96.53 a barrel by 1145 GMT, extending a 1.1% rise in the previous session. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures gained $2.87, or 3.3%, to $89.34 a barrel, after climbing 0.8% in the previous session. A weaker U.S. dollar also supported oil prices as it makes the commodity cheaper for buyers holding other currencies. Still, the benchmark oil contracts were headed for weekly declines due to rising U.S. oil inventories, and lingering fears over capped fuel demand in China amid an uptick in daily COVID cases.

☆ European shares ease from eight-week highs as U.S. midterm results pour in
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-09 | by ( Shreyashi Sanyal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The pan-European STOXX 600 index (.STOXX) fell 0.6% by 0930 GMT, with the retail sector index (.SXRP) down 1.1%. Britain's Marks & Spencer (MKS.L) slipped 3.6%, down the most on the sector index, as it warned of a "gathering storm" of higher costs and pressure on household budgets. Among other stocks, Germany's Commerzbank shed 5.2%, weighing down the banks index by 0.9%. German speciality chemicals maker Lanxess (LXSG.DE) dropped 3.6% as it cut the top end of its forecast range for annual profit on weaker demand. Reporting by Shreyashi Sanyal in Bengaluru; Editing by Uttaresh.V and Arun KoyyurOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Morning Bid: Bank man fried
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"We are in the best of hands," FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried said on Twitter, after announcing a bailout that has not quite soothed market jitters. Bitcoin was falling in Asia on Wednesday, so was FTX's collapsing token and Binance's token had the wobbles. As Spectra Markets' Brent Donnelly and others have previously noted, naming rights are a reasonable signal of irrational exuberance. FTX's 19-year deal for naming rights at the Miami Heat basketball team's home arena looks to face a similar fate, as does its sponsorship of the Mercedes F1 team. China's factory gate prices dropped for the first time since December 2020, and consumer inflation moderated, underlining faltering domestic demand.

But shares fell more than 7% after the bank said its 2024 costs would be higher than anticipated, with revenue and operating profit for that year missing analysts' current forecasts. Net profit of 195 million euros in the quarter compares with a profit of 403 million a year earlier. Analysts had expected profit of 116 million euros on average in a consensus forecast published by the bank. Looking ahead to 2024, the bank said it now expects operating profit of 3.2 billion euros, below analysts' expectations. In a note, Deutsche Bank analysts said the forecast was "below consensus" and asked, "How conservative is the 2024 guidance?"

LONDON/TOKYO, Nov 2 (Reuters) - The dollar slipped on Wednesday as investors awaited a Federal Reserve policy decision amid speculation it might indicate a slowdown in future rate hikes. But for the December meeting, the futures market is split on the odds of a 75- or 50-bps increase. The real was 0.1% higher exchanging hands for 5.14 per dollar. YEN JUMPSThe yen , down a whopping 28% against the dollar this year, outperformed on Wednesday, with traders on alert for possible intervention around the Fed meeting. The BOJ also released minutes of its latest policy meeting, with a member saying the bank must be vigilant for an inflation overshoot, possibly caused by yen weakness.

LONDON/TOKYO, Nov 2 (Reuters) - The U.S. dollar slipped on Wednesday as investors awaited for the U.S. Federal Reserve's policy decision amid speculation it might indicate a slowdown in future rate hikes. But for the December meeting, the futures market is split on the odds of a 75- or 50-bps increase. It will be a difficult balance to strike for Powell," said Daria Parkhomenko, FX strategist at RBC Capital Markets. Against the weakening dollar, the euro and sterling edged up to $0.9889 and $1.1494, respectively. YEN JUMPSThe yen , down a whopping 28% against the U.S. dollar this year, outperformed, with traders on alert for possible intervention around the Fed meeting.

Summary Energy prices continue to drive inflationBut "core" inflation accelerates as wellSome fear interest rate hikes could make slowdown worseBRUSSELS, Oct 31 (Reuters) - Euro zone inflation surged more than expected in October, data showed on Monday, fuelling expectations that the European Central Bank will press on with big interest rate hikes despite economic growth slowing. Some economists saw that continued growth as creating space for the central bank to keep taking strong inflation-fighting steps. The growth is important because many economists believe the ECB would not want to keep raising rates during an expected euro zone recession, heralded by the growth slow-down in the July-September compared with the 0.8% quarterly and 4.3% year-on-year growth in the April-June period. The surging inflation and slowing growth are mainly the result of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent disruption of Russian gas deliveries to Europe. That has driven up energy prices and broader inflation, triggered rate rises and lead to a slowing of economic activity and falling confidence.

LONDON, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Germany, considered Europe's most reliable debtor, is having trouble selling its bonds, just as it seeks billions to tackle the energy crisis. Hit hard by its over-reliance on Russian energy, Germany intends to borrow particularly large amounts in the coming years, with Parliament last week voting to suspend the constitutional debt brake that limits new borrowing. France's finance agency, in contrast, issued 10 billion euros of medium term bonds on Oct. 20 into strong demand. VOLATILITY HURTS AUCTIONSThe uncertainty around borrowing and QT has increased volatility in euro zone bond markets, already rocked by the knock-on effects from Britain's now-scrapped plans for large unfunded tax cuts. Volatility is deterring the banks that act as dealers for German bonds from bidding in debt auctions, Tammo Diemer, head of the country's finance agency, said at an event on Tuesday.

☆ Why China won't bail out its real estate sector
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-25 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

A year after Chinese developer Evergrande 's debt problems began rattling investors, the country's real estate troubles have only gotten worse. Some homebuyers refused to pay their mortgages due to construction delays, while property sales plunged. He expects Beijing will want to gradually resolve the problems in real estate and reduce the industry's role in the economy. Explosive growth in China's real estate industry over the last two decades minted tycoons who were not afraid of flaunting their wealth. It contrasts with an average four to five quarters for previous real estate slumps in China, the report said.

☆ Sterling dips as market trims BoE rate hike bets, yen scrabbles off 32-yr low
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-18 | by ( Joice Alves | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The battered Japanese yen traded near a 32-year trough to the dollar at 149 yen, putting the major psychological barrier of 150 in focus. ING expects now a 75 basis-point rate hike in November rather a full-point move expected before the fiscal policy U-turn, Smith added. The euro was volatile weakened against the dollar following German investor sentiment data, which albeit less pessimistic than expected, still painted a bleak picture of Europe's biggest economy. The dollar index which measures its performance against six major currencies, including sterling, the euro and the yen - was last down 0.1% at 112.00. Britain's policy U-turn saw the risk-sensitive New Zealand dollar surge more than 1%, already lifted by hotter-than-expected consumer inflation data, boosting bets for further rate hikes.

Brent crude settled down $1.90, or 2%, to $94.29 a barrel while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude settled down $1.78, or 2%, to $89.35. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register"There is growing pessimism in the markets now," said Craig Erlam of brokerage OANDA. U.S. crude oil stockpiles were expected to have risen last week after having fallen the prior two weeks, a preliminary Reuters poll showed on Tuesday. A strong dollar makes oil more expensive for buyers with other currencies and tends to weigh on risk appetite. President Joe Biden is re-evaluating the U.S. relationship with Saudi Arabia after OPEC+ announced last week it would cut oil production, White House national security spokesman John Kirby said on Tuesday.

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