Cyprus draws global financial sharks’ ire for defying them
23 March 2013 2:35 AM GMT
As Cyprus scrambles to stave off a bankruptcy of its banks and a possible exit from the single currency, the euro group has expressed readiness to discuss a new proposal regarding implementation of a 10 billion euros ($13 billion) bailout for Nicosia offered by EU and IMF. The new plan is an alternative to the controversial bank levy proposed initially to raise up to 5.8 billion euros ($ 7.9 billion), a main condition to receive the bailout, which was overwhelmingly rejected by Cyprus' Parliament on Tuesday.
The bank levy plan, which envisaged a one-off tax of 6.75 per cent on bank deposits between 20,000 euros and 100,000 euros and 9.9 per cent tax above that level, is now unlikely. There will be no revised version of the tax in the new proposal, Parliament President Yiannakis Omirou was quoted as saying in media reports.
A central element of the 'Plan B' is the setting up of a 'national solidarity fund', to raise the amount demanded by the international donors by pooling resources from the island's Orthodox Church, pension fund, wealthy citizens and foreign investors.
It will be used to recapitalise banks and to repay some of the government debts.Meanwhile, rating agency Standard & Poor's further downgraded the credit rating of the island nation to 'CCC' from 'CCC+', both junk status, in view of the likelihood of a bankruptcy.
President of the euro group Jeroen Dijesselbloem said after an emergency conference call of the euro-zone finance ministers that the 'group stands ready to discuss with the Cypriot authorities a draft new proposal, which it expects the Cypriot authorities to present as rapidly as possible'.
On the basis of an analysis of the situation by the 'Troika', the euro group would be prepared to continue negotiations on an adjustment programme, 'while respecting the parameters defined earlier by the euro group', Dijesselbloem said in a statement after the conference call.The Troika comprises of experts of the European Commission, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the European Central Bank (ECB).
Dijesselbloem sought to limit the damage to depositor confidence done by the finance ministers' initial decision on Saturday to levy bank deposits up to 100,000 euros with a 6.75 per cent tax.'The euro group reaffirms the importance of fully guaranteeing deposits below 100,000 euros in the EU,' the statement said.
The Cypriot government led by President Nicos Anastasiades is under mounting pressure to draft a legislation on the new proposal and to get it passed by Parliament. The ECB has threatened to cut off its emergency financial lifeline to the island’s banks if a credible ‘Plan B’ is not approved by Monday.
CREDIT SUISSE HIKED CEO’S PAY BY 34% IN 2012, SET TO FUEL PUBLIC & POLITICAL IRE
Credit Suisse hiked the already obscene pay package of CEO Brady Dougan by 34 per cent in 2012, a move likely to fuel public and political anger at inflated banker pay in a year when the Swiss bank’s stock fell drastically, according to a new agency report. Anger at corporate packages has already driven Swiss voters to back some of the world’s strictest controls on executive pay, forcing public companies to give shareholders a binding vote on compensation. EU officials, confident after a victory on banker bonuses, are expected to moot legislation giving shareholders the right to challenge executive pay amid public anger at Wall Street-style excess in EU boardrooms. (Agencies)
The bank levy plan, which envisaged a one-off tax of 6.75 per cent on bank deposits between 20,000 euros and 100,000 euros and 9.9 per cent tax above that level, is now unlikely. There will be no revised version of the tax in the new proposal, Parliament President Yiannakis Omirou was quoted as saying in media reports.
A central element of the 'Plan B' is the setting up of a 'national solidarity fund', to raise the amount demanded by the international donors by pooling resources from the island's Orthodox Church, pension fund, wealthy citizens and foreign investors.
It will be used to recapitalise banks and to repay some of the government debts.Meanwhile, rating agency Standard & Poor's further downgraded the credit rating of the island nation to 'CCC' from 'CCC+', both junk status, in view of the likelihood of a bankruptcy.
President of the euro group Jeroen Dijesselbloem said after an emergency conference call of the euro-zone finance ministers that the 'group stands ready to discuss with the Cypriot authorities a draft new proposal, which it expects the Cypriot authorities to present as rapidly as possible'.
On the basis of an analysis of the situation by the 'Troika', the euro group would be prepared to continue negotiations on an adjustment programme, 'while respecting the parameters defined earlier by the euro group', Dijesselbloem said in a statement after the conference call.The Troika comprises of experts of the European Commission, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the European Central Bank (ECB).
Dijesselbloem sought to limit the damage to depositor confidence done by the finance ministers' initial decision on Saturday to levy bank deposits up to 100,000 euros with a 6.75 per cent tax.'The euro group reaffirms the importance of fully guaranteeing deposits below 100,000 euros in the EU,' the statement said.
The Cypriot government led by President Nicos Anastasiades is under mounting pressure to draft a legislation on the new proposal and to get it passed by Parliament. The ECB has threatened to cut off its emergency financial lifeline to the island’s banks if a credible ‘Plan B’ is not approved by Monday.
CREDIT SUISSE HIKED CEO’S PAY BY 34% IN 2012, SET TO FUEL PUBLIC & POLITICAL IRE
Credit Suisse hiked the already obscene pay package of CEO Brady Dougan by 34 per cent in 2012, a move likely to fuel public and political anger at inflated banker pay in a year when the Swiss bank’s stock fell drastically, according to a new agency report. Anger at corporate packages has already driven Swiss voters to back some of the world’s strictest controls on executive pay, forcing public companies to give shareholders a binding vote on compensation. EU officials, confident after a victory on banker bonuses, are expected to moot legislation giving shareholders the right to challenge executive pay amid public anger at Wall Street-style excess in EU boardrooms. (Agencies)
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