Banking & Credit
Banks, lenders, credit markets and the plumbing of the financial system.
Mashreq Bank beats Q2 forecasts, but FAB keeps hold rating
Mashreq Bank's second-quarter net profit jumped 25.7% to 2.07 billion dirhams, beating FAB Securities' forecast. The brokerage kept a hold r
UniCredit's Commerzbank stake bid moves to ECB for final review
UniCredit's move to raise its stake in Commerzbank above 30% has cleared Germany's BaFin and now heads to the ECB for a 60-working-day revie
KakaoBank's Q2 profit climbs 11.5% as lending margins widen
KakaoBank's second-quarter net profit rose 11.5% to 140.8 billion won, driven by a wider net interest margin and a customer base that reache
Judo Capital's FY26 results due Aug 18; investors eye margins and funding
Judo Capital reports fiscal 2026 results on August 18. Jefferies expects solid numbers but says investors will focus on margins, funding cos
Itaú's Q2 profit rises 8% but fee outlook trimmed to 2%-5%
Itaú Unibanco, Latin America's largest private bank, posted an 8% rise in recurring Q2 profit to 12.41 billion reais, but trimmed its fee an
PNB Housing Finance Q1 profit rises 4.5% as loan growth offsets margin squeeze
PNB Housing Finance grew first-quarter profit 4.5% as loan demand stayed strong, but its net interest margin narrowed to 3.50% and leverage
Nedbank's NCBA deal nears final approval, expanding East Africa reach
Nedbank is close to final regulatory sign-off for its 13.9 billion rand ($842 million) purchase of a 66% stake in Kenya's NCBA. The deal aim
RBC sees NatWest balance-sheet growth supporting returns to 2030
RBC Capital Markets refreshed its NatWest forecasts after Q2 results, keeping a sector perform rating. It models £12.5 billion in shareholde
HSBC hints at bigger banker bonuses in second half if momentum holds
HSBC's CEO hinted that bankers could see bigger bonuses in the second half of 2026 if current momentum continues. The bonus pool is about 10
Metro Bank's turnaround gains traction as profit climbs 34%
Metro Bank's turnaround is showing results: first-half underlying pre-tax profit jumped 34% to £60.6m. The lender is leaning into higher-mar
HSBC lifts 2026 interest income target as first-half profit jumps
HSBC reported a stronger first half, with profit attributable to shareholders up to $14.63 billion. The bank also hardened its 2026 net inte
NatWest's strong Q2 prompts Berenberg to lift target, pull buybacks forward
Berenberg lifted its NatWest price target to £8.80 after a strong second quarter, and now expects share buybacks to begin in fiscal 2026—six