EMEA

SocGen back to earth with profit warning shocker

3 Aug 2011

The French bank has admitted it probably won’t make its optimistic 6 bln euro net profit target next year. This may reflect slowing revenue rather than its exposure to euro zone contagion. But with markets already jittery, the warning could hardly have come at a worse time.

Voting equality could bring big payoff for Murdoch

3 Aug 2011

Change is needed at News Corp. Scrapping the dual share structure would signal a fresh start and could create a big slug of value. Reform could also reward the Murdochs handsomely for ceding control. A rejig would dilute today’s non-voters, but even they might end up ahead.

Italy draws banks into dangerous embrace

3 Aug 2011

As investors shy away from sovereign debt, Italy will rely on banks and insurers to help it through the turmoil. The country’s lenders are well-funded and can always borrow more from the European Central Bank. But until Rome restores confidence, banks will only get weaker.

Bank of Moscow’s debacle is profitable for some

2 Aug 2011

Russia’s $14 bln banking fiasco has proved costly for both the Russian state and its major shareholder, VTB Bank. But Vitaly Yusufov, the son of former Kremlin official Igor Yusufov, looks set to profit from the imbroglio. That raises questions about the handling of the affair.

UK should tax the rich more intelligently

2 Aug 2011

Fresh calls for the 50 pct top rate to be abolished ignore political reality. Financially, tax cuts for the poor would do more to stimulate the economy. The real issue is that the tax system is a mess, and a property levy might tax the rich more effectively.

Pandora ordeal shows IPO charms can wear off fast

2 Aug 2011

The Danish jeweller’s debut avoided several sins investors link with private-equity IPOs. But 10 months later, Pandora has unleashed all manner of horrors on shareholders. Europe’s shaky new-issues market hardly needed reminding how risky it can be to back newly public outfits.

Kuwait Airways sale may not be a runway success

2 Aug 2011

The state of Kuwait wants to offload a 35 pct stake in its national carrier to a strategic partner. But the airline has been in the red for two decades, the asking price is lofty and bidders risk political pitfalls. Plans for a regional rail link don’t help the business case.

Italy overtakes Spain as euro zone’s main worry

2 Aug 2011

Yields on Italian bonds are soaring as the political vacuum fuels fears the government won’t be able to implement its fiscal plans. Spain is suffering too. But Madrid is tackling its problems, while Rome is stalling. Given the sheer size of Italy’s debt, that’s a major concern.

Barclays’ targets still look a stretch

2 Aug 2011

Falling bad debts helped the UK bank meet forecasts for H1, and underlying return on equity has jumped to 9 pct. But to achieve its 13 pct goal in 2013, Barclays will need strong top-line growth as well. That’s challenging given euro zone woes and regulatory uncertainty.

Can non-violent struggle bring down Syria’s Assad?

1 Aug 2011

Maybe not if it was purely spontaneous. But, in Syria, the campaign shows it can think strategically and organise effectively. In a style that departs from the typical Breakingviews approach, Hugo Dixon tells the tale through the eyes of a leading activist, Ausama Monajed.

Syria matters beyond Syria

1 Aug 2011

Unlike in Egypt and Tunisia, protestors are facing tanks. Unlike in Libya, they are barely resorting to violence. If Syria’s nonviolent demonstrators can topple such a repressive regime, many non-democratic governments - including Iran and even China - will feel vulnerable.

Rajoy needs to tell Spain some home truths

1 Aug 2011

The country’s probable next PM shouldn’t wait until after November’s election to level with the Spanish people about the actions needed to avoid getting sucked into the euro zone crisis and to restore competitiveness. Here’s the speech he should give now.

HSBC supertanker will take time to turn around

1 Aug 2011

CEO Stuart Gulliver wants to make the bank more efficient, but emerging market wage inflation means costs are still rising. Factor in new capital rules, and HSBC’s return on equity is also well below target. It’s no surprise the bank is planning to slash another 25,000 jobs.

Can non-violent struggle bring down Syria’s Assad?

1 Aug 2011

Maybe not if it was purely spontaneous. But, in Syria, the campaign shows it can think strategically and organise effectively. In a style that departs from the typical Breakingviews approach, Hugo Dixon tells the tale through the eyes of a leading activist, Ausama Monajed.

Can Iceland be saved?

29 Jun 2009

Bankers need to learn from bakers

27 Nov 2008

The baking business runs very smoothly. Bread is delivered in the desired quantities, technology advances (sliced bread was not the last word) and consumer tastes are satisfied. But add an “n” and the picture changes. As a business, banking is much less healthy.

Ponzi nation

8 Feb 2007