European stocks slide as Credit Suisse buyout fails to soothe investors

Kitco Media
By Reuters
Published:
Updated:
Reuters
(For a Reuters live blog on U.S., UK and European stock markets, click LIVE/ or type LIVE/ in a news window) March 20 (Reuters) - European stocks fell on Monday and shares of Credit Suisse dived more than 60% after UBS agreed to buy the troubled bank in a $3 billion deal, valuing the Swiss lender at just a fraction of its market value and sparking fears of a broader banking crisis. The pan-European STOXX 600 index fell 0.8% by 0807 GMT, after having recorded its biggest weekly decline of the year on Friday. Shares of Credit Suisse slumped 62.3% after rival UBS Group AG said it will pay 3 billion Swiss francs ($3.23 billion) for the 167-year-old bank and assume up to $5.4 billion in losses, in a package orchestrated by Swiss regulators on Sunday. Shares of UBS dropped 8.8%. Investors were also spooked by news that Credit Suisse additional tier-1 bonds - or AT1 bonds - with a notional value of $17 billion will be valued at zero, angering some of the holders of the debt who thought they would be better protected than shareholders. The wider European banking index slid 3.2% to hit its lowest level in three months.


(Reporting by Sruthi Shankar in Bengaluru; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips)

8780; outside U.S. +91 80 6182 2787;))
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.