Category: 2002
The Foreigners Take Over
Nearly all Mexico’s banks are foreign-owned now, and the financial system is fully recovered from the financial crash of 1995. But lending remains feebele in a country desperately in need of credit.
The Shadow of Instability
Economic, political and fiscal problems in many Latin American countries are buffeting the region’s banking systems. Standard & Poor’s comments on their relative health and stability in the major markets.
A State-of-the-Art System
Brazil’s financial system has been highly automated for more than a decade, but in April the country addressed remaining weaknesses in its payment infrastructure and now has global standards in place.
Bolstering Global Finances
The next phase of global reform must be squarely based on lessons learned from crises that have beleaguered emerging
markets in recent years. It must also involve intense collaborative effort by the private and public sectors, and a commitment to reform.
Different Degrees of Service
Latin American companies have reduced the number of banks that they do business with and rely more on multinational
players. But CFOs in the region say the level of service they are getting varies widely, according to Greenwich Associates’ biannual survey.
Mark-To-Market in Brazil
The Central Bank of Brazil recently changed the rules for how financial institutions report securities held as propietary assets or managed fiduciary funds. The change, while positive, has some immediate consequences for bank financial statements.