Word: banking
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...That strategy is to stay focused on core banking operations. While bank chiefs in the U.S. and Europe gorged on high-risk subprime lending and complex mortgage-backed securities in a quest for fat returns, Sands avoided toxic assets that got its competitors into trouble. Sands became even more cautious as the U.S. housing bubble began unraveling in 2007. Some risky borrowers - such as low-margin Asian exporters, which have been hit hard by the collapse of U.S. consumer spending - were asked to cough up more collateral when renegotiating loans, while other marginal customers were denied further credit. To strengthen...
...Although the bank's emerging-markets exposure in the past may have been something of a liability, it's turning out to be a strength today. StanChart derives 80% of its operating profits from Asia. While growth has plunged in some of the bank's most important regional markets, like Singapore, others have remained relatively buoyant, especially India, where StanChart has the largest branch network of any foreign bank. Its breadth across some of the region's fastest-growing economies gives it an enviable profile. StanChart "is one of the best-placed banks in the world," says Alex Potter, banking...
...Still, as the recession drags on, the odds are increasing that more of StanChart's borrowers will struggle to pay back their loans. The bank's nonperforming loans were up 30% in 2008 compared with the previous year. Even though some Asian economies, chiefly China and India, appear to have passed through the worst of the downturn, analysts still doubt StanChart can repeat 2008's performance this year. Brokerage CLSA predicts pretax profit growth will slow to 4% in 2009. Reflecting the heightened risk, Standard & Poor's in late April revised its outlook for the bank to negative. "The biggest...
...Confidence in its financial position has allowed StanChart to take advantage of crisis-created opportunities. As competitors retrench to repair tattered balance sheets, the bank is expanding its market share in key areas such as trade finance. It has boosted lending to small enterprises in Asia at no risk by participating in loan-guarantee programs implemented by governments to free up credit markets. Sands has also continued making strategic acquisitions, including the purchases of Cazenove Asia, a regional stock brokerage, and a 75% stake in another broker in India. Just as important, Sands has been beefing up the management ranks...
...test again for the system is, Are banks able to raise equity? Are investors confident enough in their ability to judge the strength of the banks' balance sheets that they're willing to put equity into a bank? We've seen substantial progress in that area. Now we're still going to put in place these facilities for legacy assets because we think they are good insurance against the risk of a future downturn, and we think they provide some broad help to this process of thawing receding credit markets. If the world gets progressively better, you may see less...