In Focus

Survival of the fittest for Vietnam’s weakest banks

Vietnam’s small and weak banks face a grave situation that will soon become worse.

India cuts banks’ reserve ratio to jolt flagging economy

The Reserve Bank of India surprised everyone by reducing the amount of deposits banks must set aside as reserves effective March 10.

In Focus

Malaysian and Hong Kong banks to offer Islamic finance in China

Affin Holdings and Bank of East Asia expect their Islamic bank to become operational by 2H12.

In Focus

Loans gush from top Chinese banks

The Big Four Chinese banks ramp up lending in an effort to stave off a further weakening of the Chinese economy.

In Focus

More loans for Islamic SMEs from CIMB Bank

The Singapore unit of CIMB Bank is poised to expand its Islamic banking operations in a big way.

In Focus

ANZ Bank receives retail RMB license

Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd has become the first Australian bank fully licensed to offer a broad array of renminbi-related products and services to customers in China.

In Focus

Vietnam acts to forestall banking crisis

A disconcerting jump in bad debts is forcing Vietnam to take measures to prop up the country’s banking industry.

In Focus

India not that worried about banks’ NPAs—yet

The central bank says the rising level of non-performing assets isn’t too scary at the present time.

In Focus

HSBC confident of strong growth in 2012-2013

Year 1 in a three-year strategy that should eventually see HSBC become the world’s leading international bank seems to have gotten off to a galloping start.

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India wants far stronger banks

The tough liquidity ratios that allowed India’s banking system to withstand the worst of The Great Recession will get even tougher.

In Focus

BEA shows its appetite for dim sum bonds

Bank of East Asia Ltd, Hong Kong’s largest independent local bank and third largest bank, expects to issue up to one billion in dim sum bonds this year.

In Focus

ANZ cuts jobs to preserve bottom line

Despite a Q1 performance it described as “solid with good results,” ANZ will axe over 1,000 more jobs in anticipation of a worsening of the malaise affecting world banking.

In Focus

State Bank of India posts profit but plagued by costly NPAs

Government-owned State Bank of India reported a welcome 15% rise in new profit during the quarter up to December 2011. But this was the only bit of good news for the quarter.

In Focus