Banking – Eurozone Compensation

Draft proposals from EU legislators to ban bonuses more than twice bankers’ fixed pay could reduce European bank competitiveness. With the compensation backlash fiercer in the EU, the bloc’s lenders could struggle to retain employees and banking business market share from Asian or U.S. peers. A number of European banks, including Deutsche Bank, have sought to cut variable compensation levels amid intense regulatory scrutiny.

Japanese Coking Coal Demands Subdued

Both Japanese basic oxygen furnace steel output (BOF) and met coal imports (26% of the global seaborne market) have fallen from 2012 highs, and BOF output growth recently contracted. BOF production may start to establish a bottom at current levels at it did in 2011 and 2012, and subsequently boost overseas met coal purchases. Gains are likely to be muted given the slow Japanese economy.

Article submitted by: Nicolas Lopez of the Capital Markets Lab (CML). To learn more about the Capital Markets Lab (CML) please visit https://business.fiu.edu/capital-markets-lab/.