Local specialities

Article Abstract:

Italians have a strong tradition of savings, especially for buying a house, and retirement saving has also grown, due to concern about state pensions. Government bond interest rates have dropped and this has meant a move into stocks, while competition for savings has increased among the banks. There is competition from foreign firms. Local knowledge is important in this market, but there is also a need for support for selling Europe-wide products.

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Standard bearer: African banking

Article Abstract:

Standard Bank is the second-largest bank in South Africa, with assets of $23 billion. Since 1992, it has been expanding into other African countries and now has a presence in 14 nations. Increasing domestic competition and the potential for long-range growth are behind the pan-African expansion.

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Backyard blues: Japanese lending in Asia

Article Abstract:

Japan's Fuji Bank and others have been opening branches in other Asian countries such as Taiwan and Vietnam. The banks loaned $113 billion to Asian countries from the beginning of 1994 to the end of 1995, up from $40 billion. These loans could be risky.

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