Investors on Tuesday (Mar 21) took some heart from the rescue of troubled lender Credit Suisse by its Swiss rival UBS, though concerns lingered about the risk of shockwaves further damaging credit markets and smaller US banks.
Attention is now on this week’s meeting of the US Federal Reserve, with traders wondering whether the central bank’s relentless rate hikes – blamed by some for sparking the crisis – might be at an end.
The 3 billion Swiss franc (US$3.2 billion) deal for Credit Suisse, once worth more than US$90 billion and the biggest name caught in the turmoil, was engineered by Swiss regulators and announced on Sunday.
Asian shares lifted off their lows as the move assuaged the worst fears of systemic contagion in the financial system.
“The current situation in US regional banks and Credit Suisse has raised concerns about contagion risk,” said Grace Tam, chief investment advisor Hong Kong at BNP Paribas Wealth Management. “This time, major central banks have been reacting very swiftly to backstop liquidity. US officials are also studying ways to temporarily guarantee all bank deposits if the banking crisis expands.”
However, she expected near-term investor sentiment will remain volatile.
In a sign of business continuity, Credit Suisse on Tuesday kicked off its three-day annual Asian Investment Conference in Hong Kong, which draws participation from top executives at regional companies, among others.
Credit Suisse CEO Ulrich Koerner, who was expected to attend the conference, however, dropped out and the event was closed to media after the weekend rescue.
The demise of Credit Suisse was triggered by the collapse of US mid-sized lenders Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank, and while European bank shares rebounded from recent losses, investors still fretted about other ticking bombs in the banking system.
Shares in First Republic Bank halved on Monday on worries that last week’s US$30 billion infusion of capital would not be enough.
JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon is leading talks with other big banks on new efforts to stabilise First Republic with a possible investment into the lender, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter.
JPMorgan and First Republic declined to comment on the report. A spokesperson for First Republic pointed to an earlier statement where the bank said it was “well-positioned to manage short-term deposit activity”.
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