The future of banking: Why banks need to shape up or sell off

Before the September crisis, many banks were looking to sell non-core assets to raise capital. Now, safety in size means mergers are the order of the day. But when the market settles, will investors demand that banks concentrate on what they are good at to maximise returns?

Special focus: Banking 2008 and beyond

Bank valuations are at 10-year lows, while capital injections from private equity firms and sovereign wealth funds are drying up. In order to shore up balance sheets and return shareholder value, will they be forced to sell the crown jewels, or should they change their business models? Helen Avery reports.

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IN A SURVEY by Allen and Overy of chief executives of FTSE 350 and Fortune 500 companies in the summer of 2007, 21% of financial firms said they expected demerger activity in their sector before the end of June this year.

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