On this week’s businesss monitor podcast, we assess the state of the European banking sector on the back of the EU-wide stress test results released on July 23. BMI’s Head of Country Risk and Financial Markets Justin Patrie, along with Head of Europe Analysis Mark Schaltuper and Europe Analyst Chris Graham, dissect the methodology of [Read more...]

 

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That the long awaited results from the EU bank stress tests (released late on July 23) failed to move the markets substantially should come as little surprise. For the stress test results to cause a major re-pricing of assets in the short run, one of two scenarios would have had to take place. On the [Read more...]

The last few weeks have certainly been good to the Spanish on the football pitch and the tennis court. But as the sporting hangover begins to wear off, all eyes will return to the ailing economy. Unlike Greece, Spain has not come to the forefront of investor concerns in recent months because of its sovereign [Read more...]

It is now over 9 months since Greece’s sovereign debt crisis brought the Eurozone’s stability to the forefront of investor concerns. With a trillion dollar bailout fund in place, and the recent bounce in the euro (some 5% against the US dollar), can we assume that the worst is now behind us. Justin Patrie, Head [Read more...]

 

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In this week’s Business Monitor podcast, Yoel Sano speaks to Lisa Lewin, Head of Africa Analysis, on her recent trip to Nigeria and Ghana. Lisa discusses both countries’ economic outlook for 2010, Nigeria’s banking sector and political crisis, and how Ghana’s forthcoming oil production promises to transform the economy.

 

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My colleagues and I have just returned from a research trip to Nigeria with some interesting insights. Generally, business is booming, with a host of banks, private equity funds and corporates reporting strong economic activity. The difficult-to-measure informal sector also seemed to be flourishing, with general commerce looking robust. (Image: Downtown Lagos)

Incidentally, opinion seemed unanimous [Read more...]

There are growing indications that the Iranian banking system is in crisis, weighed down by a proliferation of non-performing loans. Although there is no timely financial reporting to speak of in Iran, a number of recent news stories suggest to me that the country’s banks are in a great deal of trouble.

Central Bank of [Read more...]