Most Asian markets sink after US lender's collapse

HONG KONG: Most Asian markets fell Monday as the closure of two regional US banks sparked fears of contagion in the financial sector, even as officials promised to support customers.

The collapse Friday of Silicon Valley Bank, which specialises in venture-capital financing largely in the tech sector, came after a huge run on deposits left it unable to stay afloat on its own.

That came in response to its announcement of a stock offering and sale of securities to raise much-needed cash. Its shares collapsed 60 percent in New York on Thursday and trading was suspended Friday morning, before regulators said they had closed it down.

SVB is the largest retail bank to fail since the 2008 financial crisis.

Its problems had built up as the US Federal Reserve’s year-long interest rate hikes meant securities it owned were selling for significantly less — a problem that other banks could face.

On Sunday, New York regulators said they had closed another lender, Signature Bank.

The crisis forced the Fed, the Treasury Department and Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. to pledge to fully protect all depositors and give backup to any lenders struggling to find cash, providing easier terms on short-term loans.

In a joint statement, they said SVB depositors would have access to “all of their money” starting Monday, March 13, and that taxpayers will not have to foot the bill.

“We are taking decisive actions to protect the US economy by strengthening public confidence in our banking system,” the agencies said in the statement.

“The US banking system remains resilient and on a solid foundation,” due in large part due to reforms undertaken after the financial crisis that introduced new safeguards for the banking industry.

President Joe Biden vowed to hold “fully accountable” the people responsible for “this mess” and said he would deliver remarks on Monday morning on maintaining a resilient banking system.

US bank shares plunged Friday, and Asian lenders extended their own losses, with National Australia Bank and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group down on Monday, though HSBC edged slightly higher.

And broader equity markets were also down, with Tokyo off more than one percent with Singapore, while Sydney, Wellington, Mumbai, Manila and Bangkok were also in the red.

However, Hong Kong bounced after last week’s steep losses, while Shanghai also edged up along with Seoul and Taipei. US futures were also sharply higher.

There was little negative reaction to remarks by China’s new Premier Li Qiang that it would be “no easy task” for the country to hit its annual growth target, already one of Beijing’s lowest in decades.

The crisis will complicate the Fed’s plans to further hike interest rates as it struggles to rein in inflation, with investors now expecting it will lift them just 25 basis points at its next meeting, rather than the 50 points tipped last week.

Friday also saw the release of data showing a forecast-busting jump in US jobs creation last month, signalling more work is needed to cool the economy. The Fed keeps a close eye on the jobs market as it decides on monetary policy. Inflation figures are due out later this week.