Rating agency Scope has published its first ratings of financial institutions in the Nordic region — covering Danske, DNB, Nordea and Swedbank — and noted strong prudential and credit metrics supported by stable funding — notably through covered bonds — but also overheating housing prices in Norway and Sweden.
A solid start to the Nordic third quarter bank reporting season from Swedbank on Tuesday was built on by Handelsbanken and SEB, but Nordea fell short of consensus expectations, while in Norway DNB beat forecasts.
DNB’s second quarter pre-tax profits fell short of consensus expectations as the Norwegian bank announced its results today (Thursday), but it reported a CET1 level that suggests it “is becoming more like its Swedish peers and competitors”, according to a Kepler Cheuvreux analyst.
The designation of DNB, Nordea Bank Norge and Kommunalbanken as systemically important financial institutions (SIFIs) by the Norwegian Ministry of Finance is credit positive, Moody’s said on Monday, noting that an FSA proposal to include regional players was not taken up.
Danske and DNB released fourth quarter results today (Thursday) that reflect “various stages of recovery” while reporting by Handelsbanken and SEB yesterday confirm the strength of the Swedish banking sector, said a KeplerCheuvreux analyst.
DNB is closing the first Samurai issue for a European financial institution of 2014 tomorrow (Friday), a ¥81.6bn (Eu573m, Nkr4.78bn) dual tranche five year senior unsecured deal that achieved far broader distribution than the Norwegian bank’s last Samurai.
A Danish government plan under which bonds refinancing Danish ARMs would automatically extend in certain stressed scenarios would greatly reduce associated refinancing risks, according to Fitch, but the rating agency on Wednesday also said that there are questions regarding details of its implementation.
DNB Boligkreditt priced its second tightest five year covered bond on Tuesday, a Eu1.5bn deal that came at 7bp over and gave the issuer a Eu500m headstart on its wholesale funding needs for next year.
A Lower Tier 2 transaction from DNB and a US dollar senior unsecured deal from Svenska Handelsbanken hit the market today (Thursday), with sentiment buoyed by a surprise decision against tapering by the Fed yesterday. Meanwhile, Aktia will roadshow for a senior transaction in euros.
Norway’s DNB kicked off the Nordic reporting season today (Thursday), posting second quarter pre-tax profits that beat consensus expectations as the bank benefitted from raising lending rates and improved deposit margins.