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Euromoney’s 2012 FX survey results

Euromoney’s 2012 FX survey results

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March 1999

Portuguese Banking: Carving out a new role


As a wave of consolidation sweeps much larger banking markets in Europe, Portugal's banks are eyeing up potential acquisitions and merger partners. Will limited alliances provide the scope the banks need to compete on the wider European stage? Or are they natural targets for acquisitive banks in Spain and elsewhere? Margaret Popper reports.


Slim pickings for foreigners
BPI keeps its options open
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Portugal's banking sector has been whipped into a frenzy of consolidation speculation in the wake of the merger plans of Banco Santander and Banco Central Hispano of Spain and Paribas and Société Général in France. Every day new rumours surface about which of the top five Portuguese banks is going to acquire, merge or form an alliance with which of the other five. While everybody is probably talking to everybody about potential combinations, none of these clandestine discussions has yet born fruit. But analysts believe that something has to happen within the next year. What that something will be is anybody's guess.

In the meantime, Portuguese banks are continuing to consolidate their franchises, strengthen their brand names, and battle it out for market share in the retail arena....


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