November 1998
| Euromoney November 1998 Was it the summit meeting that saved world financial markets from Armageddon? Or was it the night on which Wall Street's crony capitalists, backed by the taxpayer, looked after their own - John Meriwether at Long-Term Capital Management? Whatever the interpretation, fear was in the air, and there wasn't much time to philosophize. David Shirreff reports on five days that shook the world. That's followed by a study of over-leverage, by Michelle Celarier, and another sad tale at UBS, by David Shirreff. - Collateral damage
The near-collapse of several hedge funds, including Long-Term Capital Management, was a symptom of increasingly reckless market practices, particularly in the handling of collateral. Perhaps the shock will send banks back to revise their repo agreements and to look less at mark to market, more at potential future exposure. By Michelle Celarier. - Another fine mess at UBS
When Meriwether invited Union Bank of Switzerland to eat a special dish with him at high table, it seemed too good to be true. It was. Why did a bunch of Swiss bankers rush in where the rest of Wall Street feared to tread? By David Shirreff.
|
Euromoney November 1998
While taking flak over job losses and cost-cutting, senior bankers claim their measures will provide shape for future growth. It's now becoming clear how this will look with emerging-market operations closing while the euro and private equity take the limelight. Peter Lee reports.
Euromoney November 1998
Shielded from the full force of international competition, suckled by a government with a voracious appetite for
debt, banking in Turkey has long been a very profitable business. But the country's big family-owned banks know this state of affairs can't last for ever. They are investing in technology and broadening their business mix. And any foreigner with a $2 billion appetite for Turkish risk might find a welcome in at least one bank boardroom. Metin Munir reports.
Euromoney November 1998
Publicity-shy Investcorp has spent 16 years channelling Middle East wealth into property and corporate ventures in the US and Europe. Nemir Kirdar, the firm's head and founder, explains the Investcorp philosophy to Peter Lee.
Euromoney November 1998
Russia will probably default on its Eurobonds. Other sovereigns may well do the same. That's not such a big deal, say the markets. It's all in the price. But are they ready for the consequences? The Euromarkets have grown up with the idea that Eurobonds are immune from rescheduling. But every debt crisis in history has been messy; the instruments involved have been discredited for years. What happens when international bond default becomes normal again? Antony Currie reports.
Euromoney November 1998
Until a few months ago syndicated lending was a borrower's market. Banks were desperate to do deals and offered seductive terms. Now the bankers have stopped calling. They're sitting back and revising the rules of the game. From now on they want it played on their terms. Michael Peterson reports.
Euromoney November 1998
It's a tough time for issuers in the Eurobond markets. So tough that only the big agencies and supranationals are getting much of a look in. Even they, though, are having to bend to the wind, issuing at wider spreads, making quasi-private placements and reopening existing bonds. Are nervous investment bankers offering them poor value? Marcus Walker reports.
Euromoney November 1998
Credit analysis based on equity prices is the basis of models built by KMV Corporation to log expected default frequencies (EDFs) for single companies and credit portfolios. Is this state-of-the-art or already passé? Euromoney editor Simon Brady grills KMV CEO David Nordby, and managing director Peter Crosbie, on the models' vices and virtues.
Euromoney November 1998
September's successful flotation of wine producer Federico Paternina reflects the IPO potential for family-owned companies in Spain. Although recent volatility in the stock market has slowed the pace of change, many other small to medium-size companies are poised to go public in response to increased global competition. Jules Stewart reports
Euromoney November 1998
Euromoney November 1998
Euromoney November 1998
Euromoney November 1998
Euromoney November 1998
Euromoney November 1998
Euromoney November 1998
Euromoney November 1998
Euromoney November 1998
Euromoney November 1998
Euromoney November 1998
Euromoney November 1998
Euromoney November 1998
Euromoney November 1998
Euromoney November 1998
Euromoney November 1998
Euromoney November 1998
Euromoney November 1998
Russia's freeze on payments to creditors overseas raises the usual questions asked when a country defaults. Christopher Stoakes gives some answers.
