Wednesday, Jan 23, 2008

UK banks don't have enough reserves

FT: Sore bottoms in store for UK banks (especially HBOS)

UK banks don't have enough reserves if write-off levels go up to 1992-1993 levels. Scary plot shown. Run for cover when hpc starts in earnest.

Posted by happyrenterz @ 05:03 PM (1099 views) Add Comment

14 Comments

1. happyrenterz said...

Wednesday, January 23, 2008 05:36PM Report Comment
 

2. Urine Trouble said...

This is why the Government / Bank will not allow HPC

Wednesday, January 23, 2008 06:42PM Report Comment
 

3. drewster said...

That's pretty scary! Are we likely to see a run on HBOS tomorrow?

The article refers to a bank called "St Ch", probably me just being thick but does anyone know which bank that is?

Wednesday, January 23, 2008 06:57PM Report Comment
 

4. japanese uncle said...

If the run should take place on H--S, GBP will drop by 60%, surely and FTSE by 50%.

Wednesday, January 23, 2008 07:04PM Report Comment
 

5. Judith said...

St Ch = Standard Chartered?

Wednesday, January 23, 2008 07:08PM Report Comment
 

6. su said...

@Drewster
I think it's Standard Chartered Bank

Wednesday, January 23, 2008 07:19PM Report Comment
 

7. Bricksnmortarhaha said...

Standard Chartered?

Wednesday, January 23, 2008 07:20PM Report Comment
 

8. lvmreader said...

@Japanese Uncle

The prospect of any of the Big 4 going under will sink what little confidence the rest of the world has in the UK. Barclays may already have been bailed out covertly (thank the Lord as long as they replace ALL the senior management), but the UK GBP is at significant risk.

Wednesday, January 23, 2008 07:23PM Report Comment
 

9. su said...

Yep. It's definitely Standard Chartered Bank. I've just noticed it's mentioned in the article. :-)

Wednesday, January 23, 2008 07:24PM Report Comment
 

10. who stole my pension? said...

If a big one suffers a run they will all suffer a run. There is no way the government will be able to stop it this time.

Wednesday, January 23, 2008 09:18PM Report Comment
 

11. jack c said...

Techieman has made several posts recently regarding the next run on a uk bank - perhaps he'll comment on the article/table and it's findings.

Wednesday, January 23, 2008 09:38PM Report Comment
 

12. alan said...

This seemed to be the key phrase....
"We see a high possibility that HBOS will either need to raise new equity or sharply disappoint on loan volumes".

However, the folk I know in the company say that they are cautious lenders, with a good customer base, so I guess that may mitigate their 2008 losses and their need for external cash. Personally, I thought A&L and B&B showed the least regard for "repayability" on the part of the borrowers, and they were most vulnerable to a run, having smaller customer bases.

Wednesday, January 23, 2008 11:08PM Report Comment
 

13. happyrenterz said...

But why have they put themselves at such risk? Is it the fools chant "this time it will be different". Maybe it comes down to what George Soros wrote in that earlier post. The securities got so complex that no one understood the risks anymore.

Wednesday, January 23, 2008 11:19PM Report Comment
 

14. drewster said...

Thanks guys - was being a bit thick there! Surprising that the list includes Standard Chartered but doesn't include Natwest - perhaps their figures weren't available. Time to close my Alliance & Leicester account....

Thursday, January 24, 2008 12:44AM Report Comment
 

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