London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Sunday, Jul 26, 2026

Financial markets calm but warning of problems to come from IMF

Financial markets calm but warning of problems to come from IMF

The FTSE 100 rebounded as did shares in the largest UK commercial banks after the Deutsche Bank sell off on Friday.
After a turbulent Friday and the rumbling of the worst financial crisis since 2008, the UK and European stock markets have largely calmed.

Germany's largest bank, Deutsche Bank, became the focus in the latest wave of selling across banking and wider financial stocks in the wake of the forced takeover of Credit Suisse.

Its shares had fallen more than 14% at one point during a bumpy day of trading across Europe.

On Monday they bounced back to finish 6.2% up, but failed to reach the level of €9.32 (£7.59) - a share seen before the drop on Thursday evening.

Similarly, the FTSE 100 index of the most valuable companies listed on the Financial Times Stock Exchange closed 0.9% up, but had yet to recover from the hit it took on Friday.

Following the news that the embattled Silicon Valley Bank had been bought by First Citizen Bank, its shares surged above 50%.

Meanwhile NatWest and Lloyds ended the day in positive territory, with Barclays also up 2.3%.

The gains come just a day after the head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned there are risks to financial stability stemming from the turmoil in the banking sector.

"At a time of higher debt levels, the rapid transition from a prolonged period of low interest rates to much higher rates, necessary to fight inflation, inevitably generates stresses and vulnerabilities, as evidenced by recent developments in the banking sector in some advanced economies," said Kristalina Georgieva, managing director of the IMF.

Central banks globally have raised interest rates in an effort to reduce inflation, both boosting banks' profitability and posing challenges as some reliable banking securities lose value.

At the opening of US markets, the three main stock market gauges all jumped up from Friday. The S&P 500 and Dow Jones later both ended the day up 0.2% and 0.6% respectively, although the Nasdaq 100 finished 0.7% down.

Markets have been unsettled since SVB's collapse, which was followed by the failure of another regional lender Signature Bank.

The troubled Credit Suisse was rescued just over a week later.

"Markets have opened calmly this morning, and it looks like Friday's panic over Deutsche Bank was a bit misplaced," said the chief market analyst at IG Group, the online trading provider.

"But the steady drain of deposits from banks means a slow motion problem is in the making, and could result in a contraction in lending that brings on a recession," Chris Beauchamp said. "This is the bigger risk than the hunt last week for the next domino to fall in the global banking system."
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Following OpenAI's Cyberattack: 'Most Companies Still Do Not Understand What Is Coming'
Autopsy Finds No Violence in Death of Epstein-Linked Model Scout
Indian Education Minister Resigns After Cockroach Youth Protests
California Desert Data-Centre Plan Stalls as Water and Power Disputes Mount
Northern Ireland Border Security Tightened After Military-Grade Explosive Interception
British Hospitality Sector Targets Summer Visitors Through Regional Promotions
England River Access Debate Intensifies After New Data Shows Limited Public Access
Royal Navy Strengthens Maritime Vigilance Amid Rising Security Concerns
UK Education Department Expands Mental Health Support for Young People Entering Work
UK Tourism Industry Launches Summer Campaigns to Boost Domestic Travel
North England Transport Plans Advance to Support Industrial Growth
Financial Markets Watch New Government’s Economic Strategy as Investors Assess Fiscal Risks
Royal Navy Continues Monitoring Russian Naval Activity Near UK Waters
UK Care Workers May Receive Immigration Exemptions Under Proposed Visa Changes
Health Secretary Yvette Cooper Begins Emergency Talks to Address NHS Staffing Shortages
UK Banks Launch High-Interest Savings Offers to Attract Household Deposits
North Sea Oil Drilling Projects Face Delays After Offshore Equipment Accident
Cairngorms Wildfire Highlights Growing Pressure on UK Emergency Services
UK Government Borrowing Plans Put Pressure on Ten-Year Gilt Markets
Royal Navy Aircraft Carrier HMS Prince of Wales Returns After NATO Northern Flank Mission
Metropolitan Police Opens Criminal Investigation Into Reform UK Political Donations
Scottish Government Requests Military Support as Cairngorms Wildfire Forces Emergency Response
Andy Burnham Takes Office as UK Prime Minister and Unveils New Cabinet Team
War, Youth Revolt and the Global Struggle for Control
War, Power and the Rising Price of Political Decisions
High Street Sales Suffer Sharpest Summer Decline in Five Years
Wales Approves Higher Taxes on Second Homes and Long-Term Empty Properties
Environment Agency Imposes Record £150 Million Penalty on Water Companies
UK Competition Watchdog Blocks U.S. Takeover of Cambridge Chip Designer
Scotland Unveils Land Reform Bill to Expand Renewable Energy Projects
Northern Ireland Secures £500 Million Technology Investment for Belfast Cybersecurity Hub
NHS Rolls Out AI Triage System Across Major Hospitals in England
UK Strengthens North Sea Naval Cooperation With European Allies
UK Chancellor Commits £7 Billion to Accelerate Manchester-Leeds Rail Link
Bank of England Signals Interest Rate Cuts After Inflation Falls Below Target
Badenoch Rejects Grant Shapps' Bid to Return as Conservative Candidate
BAE Chief Warns Britain Has Underestimated the Risk of War
Burnham Rules Out New Scottish Independence Referendum in First Talks With Swinney
UK Government Strengthens Northern Economic Agenda Through Manchester Headquarters and Regional Partnerships
United Kingdom Opens New Furness Peninsula Coastal Route Under King Charles the Third England Coast Path
England Reduces Business Costs for Hospitality Sector Through New Relief Package
United Kingdom Allocates Seven Point Three Million Pounds for Zero-Emission Aviation Research
United Kingdom Begins Restoration Works on Portishead Railway Line After Six Decades Without Passenger Services
United States Tariff Measures Create New Trade Challenges for United Kingdom and European Union Businesses
Prime Minister Andy Burnham Meets Scottish and Welsh Leaders to Promote Regional Growth Cooperation
United Kingdom Government Announces Twenty Percent Business Rates Cut for Pubs, Clubs, and Music Venues
Prime Minister Andy Burnham Opens Manchester Government Headquarters to Shift Decision-Making Away From Westminster
United Kingdom Defence Ministry Says Armed Forces Ready After Iran Accuses London Over US Military Strikes
United Kingdom Inflation Falls to Two Point Six Percent as Prime Minister Andy Burnham Gains Economic Breathing Room
OpenAI Sued After ChatGPT Allegedly Discouraged Emergency Care Before Near-Fatal Embolism
×