Search results for

The region’s equity markets had a mixed year. In Brazil, the region’s largest market, the equity market had a terrible time, especially for IPOs. Issuance was at its lowest for a decade. Deals launched and were pulled, and those that made it to market were priced well below the range. Amid this weakness stood BTG Pactual. BTG is a bank in hurry, and its rapid growth necessitated an injection of capital and a change in its ownership structure to enable its business plan to maintain its momentum. Rather than wait, it launched amid bad market conditions – the two smaller deals either side of BTG Pactual’s IPO failed to price in its range. The bank’s confidence in its reputation, its deal-pricing discipline and its innovative ownership structure that aligns external shareholders and the selling partnership enabled the bank to price a large deal amid the carnage and move on.

The Bank of England’s (BoE) monetary policy committee meeting on Thursday is likely to be overshadowed by an appearance in the UK parliament from Mark Carney, the central bank’s governor elect.

In its home market, UBS has aroused plenty of popular antipathy as an embarrassment to the country for its frequent stumbles in the past five years. But as a business, it is doing reasonably well.

Italian stocks took a beating after political uncertainty brought on by the upcoming election in Italy. But analysts reckon Berlusconi's re-election prospects are dim.

Investors and regulators will like its latest plan to pay part of bankers’ compensation in a new form of contingent convertible.

By cutting back its investment bank sharply, UBS chief executive Sergio Ermotti has laid down a challenge to competitors. It now seems that the private bankers wielding power at the top of UBS want to keep fair chunks of the investment bank. Has Ermotti found the keys to a resurgent UBS?

The two main pieces of regulation about to hit European financial markets and the derivatives market, in particular – Mifid and EMIR – have sparked fears over their unintended consequences to collateral velocity, liquidity and transparency. But some industry participants believe these regulatory shifts will yield benefits.

As Brazil’s private banking market becomes more like the rest of the world, with greater product diversity and sophistication, the international banks sense an opportunity to take the competition to the locals. In recent years the Brazilians have used their presence and their nationality to win market share.

The prospect of official reaction to the recent strength in the euro is likely to keep its gains in check ahead of this week’s European Central Bank (ECB) meeting.

Since the Lehman collapse, bond and equity markets have knelt before their G7 central banks, as seemingly omnipotent monetary policymakers offer boundless liquidity. But amid fears over inflation risks and asset bubbles, is this the road to redemption or the path to perdition?

Bullish investors – such as Jim O’Neill, chairman of Goldman Sachs Asset Management – reckon strong earnings growth will ensure emerging stocks can repeat their stellar performance in 2013. But with valuations less attractive than last year, only the smart money will generate outsized returns, with China and Russia looking particularly attractive, analysts conclude.

Some $30 trillion will transfer from the baby-boomers to their children and grandchildren in the next 30 years. These younger generations think differently and bank differently. Private banks must adapt their businesses to ensure the money stays with them.