Risk Quantum/European Central Bank (ECB)
EU banks eye bad loan relief from state guarantees
ECB move should prevent rickety loans counting as NPLs
Countercyclical buffer releases may free €6bn at top EU banks
Banco Santander and BNP Paribas could free €1.1 billion each
Banks rush to tap new dollar liquidity facilities
ECB saw strongest demand: $75.8 billion out of the new 12-week programme
Six countries slash countercyclical buffers
Sweden reduces its buffer the most, to zero from 2.5%
ECB cuts top banks’ required capital by over €350bn
Capital conservation requirement and Pillar 2 guidance amounts relaxed, countercyclical capital buffers encouraged to fall
Eurozone real estate funds build equity holdings
Net purchases of equity hit €18.2 billion
Equity gains bolster EU hedge funds’ portfolios
Funds were net sellers of equities, but market gains added +10% to balance sheet values
EU funds loaded up on US debt in 2019
Net purchases of US debt up +962% in 2019
Model flaws continue to dog ABN Amro
Trim added €10 billion of risk-weighted assets in 2019
EU bank clients pressed for better trade terms in 2019
Hedge funds saw price and non-price conditions tighten in Q4
UniCredit to liberate capital on Pillar 2 change
Bank targets 50% payout ratio
Model review adds €13bn to ING’s RWAs
Trim effects projected to raise CET1 requirement by at least €600m