Analysis: BOJ has little room to move as Ukraine clouds recovery, prices soar
The crisis in Ukraine is giving the Bank of Japan a headache not facing other major central banks, forcing it to maintain a more dovish stance on monetary policy despite rising inflationary pressures and a dearth of tools to combat another economic downturn.
Bitcoin jumps after apparent Yellen statement quells U.S. clampdown fears
Bitcoin led a rally in cryptocurrencies on Wednesday after what appeared to be a prematurely published U.S. Treasury statement allayed market worries about a sudden tightening of U.S. rules around digital assets.
UBS has limited Russia exposure, but sees risks of unexpected increases
UBS’s (UBSG.S) direct exposure to Russia made up $634 million of the Swiss bank’s total emerging market exposure of $20.9 billion at the end of 2021, the bank said in its annual report.
HSBC boosts profitability goal on higher rates, profit doubling
HSBC (HSBA.L) brought forward its key profitability target by a year and more than doubled its annual profit as expected bad loans from the COVID-19 pandemic failed to materialise, and it pointed to rising interest rates lifting its income.
Stocks rally, seizing on Ukraine de-escalation signs
World stocks crept higher on Wednesday for the second day in a row, while safe-haven assets such as government bonds and gold lost ground, despite Western scepticism over Russian claims of a troop pullback from Ukraine’s borders.
Explainer: Europe’s banks fear payment system could be casualty of Russia-Ukraine crisis
Amid fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, Italy’s UniCredit has backed out of a potential acquisition in Russia and Austria’s Raiffeisen Bank International has set aside risk provisions for possible sanctions on Russia.
Santander lifts profits as it releases pandemic provisions
Spain’s Santander (SAN.MC) released 750 million euros ($846 million) in pandemic-related provisions in the fourth quarter, betting on an economic recovery in its main markets and helping boost net profit eight-fold compared to a year earlier.
Inflation stations: Five questions for the ECB
Record euro area inflation rates mean price pressures will top the agenda for European Central Bank policymakers meeting on Thursday.
BOJ raises inflation forecasts but rules out policy tightening
The Bank of Japan raised its inflation forecasts on Tuesday but said it was in no rush to change its ultra-loose monetary policy, as rising prices fan speculation it may soon signal a shift in its decade-old stimulus experiment.
European stocks gain ahead of earnings; China adds stimulus
European shares were slightly higher in early trading on Monday as investors focused on company earnings and U.S. Federal Reserve policymakers entered a quiet period ahead of their meeting next week.
