Effect of climate-related risk on the costs of bank loans: Evidence from syndicated loan markets in emerging economies

Based on a novel dataset that combined syndicated loans originated in the emerging market economies with greenhouse gas emission intensity data of borrowers, this study examines whether and to what extent banks in these emerging markets have factored in climate transition risk in their lending decisions. On loan pricing, our results suggest that banks in these emerging markets have started to price-in climate transition risk for loans to emissions-intensive sector since the Paris Agreement. This could reflect their increased awareness of a climate-transition risk towards such firms. The extent of the transition risk premium is also found to be dependent on the environmental attitude of banks. Specifically, green banks are found to charge a higher loan spread than other banks, when lending to the same brown firm after the Paris Agreement. Apart from pricing a transition risk premium in the loan spread, we find evidence that banks may also consider imposing more stringent non-pricing contractual terms, such as shortening loan tenor and imposing collateral requirement, on brown firms especially when the associated credit risk impacts on these firms are more uncertain.     

Gender Diversity on European Banks’ Boards of Directors

This article investigates the gender diversity of the corporate board of European Union banks. Employing a large sample of 612 European banks from 20 European countries, it identifies organizational characteristics that could be predictive of women??s presence on bank boards. We identify three factors that play a particularly important role in defining bank board gender diversity. First, the proportion of women on the board is higher for lower-risk banks. We argue that there may be some statistical discrimination behind this relation, although it could also be explained by a real risk-aversion hypothesis. Second, banks with larger boards have a higher proportion of women on their boards, which could be considered a signal of some kind of preference for homogeneity on small boards. Finally, banks that have a growth orientation are more prone to include women on their board, since they may be seen as providers of diverse external resources that are more valued by firms operating under critical circumstances.     

From thrifts to universal banks: the sources of organisational change in French savings banks, 1945–2000

This article aims to analyse the processes by which French savings banks have transformed themselves in the past 70 years. Although much is known about how banking has changed in industrialised countries since the late 1970s, in particular through higher competition, regulatory changes and restructuring, we know relatively little about how non-profit banks have been affected. In addition, although the key factors of change highlighted in the literature all reveal an implicit emphasis on exogenous sources of change (i.e. banks respond to changes in their external environment by adjusting their strategy), not much research has been dedicated to investigate the potential endogenous factors of change and, by extension, more complex interactions between banks and their environment have been ignored. This article aims to respond to these two challenges, by drawing on the framework proposed by Haveman and Rao suggesting that organisational change occurs as the outcome of co-evolution between organisations and institutions. Given the key role played by the state in banking, the article proposes an amendment to this framework by taking into account the multiple interdependencies between state and banking actors, and how these interdependencies evolve over time.     

Central Banks: Confronting the Hard Truths Discovered and Tough Choices Ahead

Central banking has faced new levels of complexity since the onset of the financial crisis. Central banks might have saved the world economy from plunging even further, but their unconventional actions created risks that require continued vigilance. This paper presents six “hard truths” that must remain at the forefront of central banking policy for the indefinite future. They imply new and largely unexplored risks and require central banks to take important measures to protect from their realization.     

Bank profitability and interest rate risk

It is frequently asserted that the profitability of institutions that lend long and borrow short is restricted during periods of rising interest rates. In banking circles this assertion has been translated into a concern primarily for the soundness of smaller banks, which are commonly thought to hold a large proportion of their portfolios in longer term fixed-rate loans and thus face considerable interest rate risk. Moreover, with the popularity of the new “NOW” accounts and competing money market mutual funds, there is a fear that a potential profit squeeze at these institutions has been made more probable. The present study examines the issue of the interest rate sensitivity of commercial bank profitability at a theoretical level and attempts to measure empirically the extent to which the profitability of different size classes of banks has been affected by periods of changing interest rates since 1976. This study finds that small commercial banks as a group have actually experienced increased profitability both absolutely and relative to large banks in recent periods (since 1976) of rising interest rates. However, this variation is numerically small. This finding calls into question both the usefulness of the maturity composition model as a predictor of interest rate risk and the concern for the supposed plight of small banks during periods of rising interest rates.     

Der deutsche Bankensektor

Although Germany’s banking sector has experienced a wave of consolidation, especially since the financial crisis, the country is still home to a high number of banking institutions. When domestic economic activity was sluggish in the mid-2000s, German banks searched for sources of income abroad; some of them have massively invested in structured products. As a consequence, the financial crisis of 2007–2009 has hit German banks harder than those from other eurozone countries. The European Commission has played a key role in restructuring the sector, asking in particular that banks which have received state aid strongly reduce their balance sheets — and ordering the liquidation of one of them. Since 2010 the German banking sector has returned to the profit zone and appears more robust thanks to an increase of equity and a reduction of balance sheets. The leverage ratio remains nevertheless significant, profitability remains low in a context of strong competition on the domestic market, and some banks find themselves deeply affected by the crisis of the shipping sector.     

民营化、国有化与中国国有银行改革

国有银行自上世纪70年代中期以来出现了民营化的国际趋势,一些国家因此发生了银行危机.而此前全球曾有过国有化浪潮.虽然国有银行效率比民营银行低,但经验研究却表明,国有银行与银行危机之间没有或很少有因果关系;而且由于有政府信誉担保不易发生挤兑.中国国有银行改革过程实际上是政府逐步放弃控制权的过程,但切不可因效率而忽视金融稳定;简单地依靠所有权变更无法解决国有银行脆弱性问题;而且,与境外战略投资者合作时要谨防金融主权失控风险.     

Cash Management of Malaysian Banks

ABSTRACT

This study aims to identify seasonal variations in the form of day of the week, month of the year, and time of the month effects on the demand and supply of cash based on daily cash data obtained from a sample of banks in Malaysia. This information would increase the efficiency of vault cash management policies of banks, which would in turn increase the profitability of banks since the degree to which banks optimize their vault cash holding has revenue and cost implications. These seasonal effects have been tested using the one-way ANOVA technique, and the findings revealed that the demand for general cash among Malaysian banks has been on the decline throughout the years due to the introduction of new channels of delivery. There was also sufficient statistical evidence, though to varying extent, that indicates the presence of month of the year and time of the month effects on bank's demand for and supply of cash.     

Trends in the growth of Japanese international banking in Western Europe

Changes in Japan's domestic economy and the emergence of stronger trade and investment links between Japan and the world economy have created substantial pressures for her banks and other financial institutions to expand overseas. The following article examines trends in Japanese international banking since the beginning of the 1970s and, in particular, the growing presence of Japanese banks in Western Europe.     

Wachstumsschwäche,Bankenmalaise und Bankenregulierung

The paper contributes to the ongoing discussion about appropriate policies towards banks when economic growth is lagging. Whereas the European Commission and representatives of the German government argue that strict banking regulation harms economic growth, the comparison between Europe and the US suggests that the opposite is true and that weak economic growth, even in Germany, is due to the insufficiency of the clean-up following the financial crisis. The ECB’s attempts to force banks to increase their lending exacerbate their weaknesses. The paper warns against confusing mere growth in demand, fuelled by credit and possibly unsustainable, with sustainable output growth, fuelled by appropriate lending and investments. Such investments will not be forthcoming if banks are weak and their decisions are distorted by debt overhang and hidden insolvency. Hopes that debt overhang will be reduced over time are illusory if banking is unprofitable. Immediate recapitalisations would be better and should be possible if banks are perceived as solvent. The view that strict banking regulation harms economic growth is in conflict with experience, including the tightening of capital requirements since 2010.     

“入世”以来我国商业银行海外并购的进展与存在的问题

2001年"入世"以来,通过股份制改革等措施,我国商业银行取得了快速发展。与此同时,商业银行海外并购也进入了一个全新的阶段。商业银行的海外并购为我国企业"走出去"树立了积极的榜样,提供了有力的支撑,也为我国融入全球化、提升国家竞争力等方面作出了重要贡献。尽管如此,我国国有商业银行海外并购依然面临着受国际金融和贸易环境的限制较大、风险评估机制还有待进一步完善、人才的短缺和国内法规和体制难以与国际对接等问题。     

Size and rank stability of the 100 largest commercial banks, 1925–1978

Although the importance and rank stability of the 100 or 200 largest industrial corporations has been the subject of several studies, no comparable studies have been conducted in banking. Questions about the position and role of the 100 largest banks are beginning to emerge as a result of the 1980 thrift institution legislation and the prospect of interstate banking in the not too distant future. Data constructed for this study reveal that 1) concentration of deposits in the 100 largest banks increased from 33.7 percent in 1925 to 51.4 percent in 1978, 2) the pattern of change and the absolute level of concentration are remarkably similar for the 100 largest industrials, 3) deposits have become increasingly concentrated within the top 100 banks, 4) mobility and turnover have been relatively stable since 1925, 5) merger activity is partly responsible for the increased concentration and observed mobility and turnover, and 6) there has been a notable increase in the geographical dispersion of banks among the top 100.     

Determinants of Federal Reserve lending to failed banks

Many of the banks that failed in the years 1985–1990 borrowed from the Federal Reserve for extended periods in their last year. This article tests hypotheses about the determinants of borrowings by banks that failed in these years. Results are consistent with the hypothesis that borrowings were greatest among the banks with the greatest liquidity needs in their last year. They do not support the hypothesis that the Fed favored member banks in its allocation of credit to troubled banks. The results indicate significant variation in lending practices across Federal Reserve districts, and there is weaker evidence of variation in lending practices across time.The rate of bank failure in the second half of the 1980s and early 1990s was high relative to failure rates in earlier decades. Many of the failed banks borrowed from the Federal Reserve for extended periods in their last year. Of the sample of failed banks in this study, 58% borrowed at some time in their last year, and 48% borrowed in their last three months. In most cases, the Federal Reserve would have been aware of the financial problems of these banks when lending to them, based on the supervisory ratings of the condition of the banks.Congress acted in 1991 to restrict Federal Reserve lending to undercapitalized banks, in the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991 (FDICIA). These restrictions were based on the view that Federal Reserve lending to undercapitalized banks increased the losses of the FDIC in bank failure cases.There was a lot of variation among the borrowers in terms of the length of time they borrowed and average borrowings relative to their total deposits. This variation makes it possible to test hypotheses about the borrowings of these banks near the time of their failure. One hypothesis is that the Federal Reserve made credit available to the troubled banks with the greatest liquidity needs. Banks with liquidity needs have exhausted most of their liquid assets, must draw down reserves to pay depositors who are withdrawing funds, and cannot raise funds in the private sector. Fed lending to the troubled banks with the greatest liquidity needs would have given supervisors time to determine which banks to close and the methods for resolving the failed bank cases.¹ Another hypothesis is that variation among the banks in the patterns of their borrowings reflected preferences of the Fed to aid some banks rather than others, such as banks that were members of the Federal Reserve System. Yet another hypothesis is that the variation in patterns of borrowings reflected differences in Fed practices across districts and across time in lending to troubled banks.Tests of these hypotheses do not indicate whether the practice of Federal Reserve lending to troubled banks was good policy.² These tests, however, may shed light on the factors that motivated the Fed to lend to troubled banks.     

论我国城市商业银行的跨区域经营

我国城市商业银行跨区域经营是城市商业银行经营方式上的一次革命。城市商业银行跨区域经营的模式有并购重组和直接设立异地分支机构两种,这两种模式各有利弊,城市商业银行应该从自身条件出发作出选择。城市商业银行要进行跨区域经营,就应该加强风险管理,完善公司治理,合理定位,提高核心竞争力。     

The Role of Bank Funding Diversity: Evidence from Vietnam

This paper analyzes the impact of bank funding diversity on bank income and risk in emerging markets. We utilize a data sample which includes 37 Vietnamese banks for the period 2006–2015. We find that banks with diversified funding sources have advantages in improving profitability. However, we also find that banks with higher funding liquidity tend to participate in more risk‐taking activities. The findings contradict the notion that banks which have access to diversified funding sources are able to improve profitability without increasing their risk‐taking. The study has strong implication for banks managers and prudential authorities in emerging markets.     

论完善农业政策性金融体系

文章指出,长期以来由于国家对农业发展银行没有一个长远的系统规划,加之农业政策性金融条例和有效财务安排的缺乏,导致我国农业发展银行缺乏独立生存发展的外部环境和有效营运机制,其生存发展面临困境。为完善我国农业政策性金融体系,文章认为,国家应以全额投资方式建立若干个全国性的具有专门职能的农业政策性金融机构,由国家、地方政府联合出资共同设立若干个区域性农业政策性金融机构,同时通过国家、地方政府参股或控股地方农村金融机构,形成一个产权结构多元化、业务经营专业化、经营形式多样化的农村政策性金融服务体系,从根本上解决我国市场经济发展过程中农村金融与农村经济发展之间的矛盾,推进农村经济建设和社会发展。     

我国商业银行中间业务发展分析——以12家上市商业银行为例

基于12家上市商业银行2011年半年报数据,运用统计性描述法深入比较分析我国主要商业银行中间业务当前发展状况并给出未来发展建议。研究表明,我国上市商业银行的中间业务收入及其在营业收入中的比重均有较大幅度的提高,并呈现中间业务收入与其规模正相关,具体构成共性业务与个性业务并存,传统中间业务的主导地位下降等特点。商业银行进一步发展中间业务,应在确定战略目标的前提下,加强产品研发力度,大力发展新兴中间业务,积极培育和引用相关人才,同时四大国有控股的商业银行与中型股份制商业银行应实行差异化发展策略。     

商业银行不良资产证券化存在风险及对策分析

从我国开始促进发展商业银行不良资产证券化至今,已取得了一定的成效和收益,但其仍然面临的一定的风险和挑战,面临的风险主要包括定价风险、信用风险、法律政策风险、结构风险等。其成因主要在于商业银行管理体制落后,信用风险管理方法欠缺,监督监管体制不完善,商业银行绩效考核机制不完善等方面。我国应进一步完善我国金融市场环境,健全不良资产证券化法律政策制度体系,完善资产证券化会计处理准则,规范监管商业银行不良资产运作机制,发展和完善信托方式和交易结构,从而进一步促进商业银行不良资产证券化的发展与完善。     

利率市场化对我国城市商业银行的影响

2014年开始银行业将面临着利率市场化的外界环境,在这样的背景下,我国银行业将会普遍感受到这一外界环境带来的巨大压力,尤其是资产总额相对较小的城市商业银行。本文使用SWOT模型对利弊进行分析可以看出在市场利率化的过程中城市商业银行面临的不仅仅是各种风险的加大,甚至还有倒闭的可能。然而不能忽视的是城市商业银行仍然在很多方面是具有优势的,比如更加熟悉银行本地的经济发展状况、与当地的企业合作更加密切,如果能更好的运用这些优势的同时,提升自身的创新能力、服务水平等综合素质,是完全可以利用这次机遇使银行自身的发展更加成熟。     

Banking on Advertising

During the last decade, advertising has emerged as a most important promotion medium for the banks. The competitive pressures within the personal savings markets have become more intense. The banks have become noticeable by their aggressive promotion, through increased advertising expenditure, radical changes in style and forms of advertising, and their increasing use of television. In 1971, the joint stock banks spent M£2.5on advertising and only 4 per cent of this was directed through television. By the end of 1981, expenditure had increased to M£22.6 with over 50 per cent directed through television.