Macaskill on markets: Is Axel Weber the Otto von Bismarck of banking?

The chairman of UBS seems determined to force a wave of European banking consolidation. A merger of his firm with Credit Suisse may not be possible, but other deals are likely.

Axel Weber’s views on the need for European bank mergers have achieved unusual prominence recently.

One media report revealing board level discussion of a possible merger between UBS and Credit Suisse was followed by a separate article disclosing that Weber has a wish list of potential partners that also features Deutsche Bank and BNP Paribas.

Then at a Bank of America financial services conference in late September, a trio of senior bankers used their virtual appearances to echo the opinion that European banking consolidation is inevitable.

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