All articles tagged with #western alliance
John Simpson warns that 2025 has been an unprecedentedly worrying year due to multiple major conflicts, including the Ukraine war, Gaza, and Sudan, with escalating geopolitical tensions involving Russia, China, and the US, raising fears of a broader global conflict or breakdown of Western alliances.
Western Alliance CEO Kenneth Vecchione described the alleged loan fraud involving the Cantor Group as an isolated incident, reassuring investors that the bank has taken steps to review and verify its collateral, which has helped stabilize its stock after last week's selloff. Despite this, concerns remain about the bank's exposure to non-bank financial institutions and the overall stability of regional banks following recent issues.
Western leaders are engaging in a series of high-profile summits, starting with the 80th anniversary of D-Day, to demonstrate unity amid challenges such as the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, the rise of China, and the political uncertainty in the U.S. due to Donald Trump's candidacy. These events aim to reinforce the strength of the Western alliance, though concerns about American politics and its impact on NATO persist.
Poland's ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party, fighting for re-election, has accused Germany of meddling in Polish government policy, straining the Western alliance and impacting efforts to support Ukraine. The nationalist PiS leadership has tapped into historical resentment towards Germany, accusing them of plotting to install their main electoral opponent, Donald Tusk, back in power. The feud has disrupted plans for a joint Polish-German tank repair plant for Ukraine's benefit. The strained relationship between Poland and Germany has soured further, with many Poles feeling that Germany has not done enough to compensate for the damage inflicted during World War Two.
Stian Jenssen, chief of staff to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, suggested that Ukraine could be offered NATO membership in exchange for ceding territory to Russia. The proposal has sparked debate and controversy, with some seeing it as a pragmatic solution to end the conflict, while others view it as rewarding aggression and undermining international law. The West's support for Ukraine is also being questioned due to economic problems and war weariness. However, Ukraine's perspective and consent are crucial in any negotiations, and the possibility of Ukraine joining NATO during the war is seen as a positive development for the country's future.
Carvana, Western Alliance Bancorporation, J.B. Hunt Transport Services, and Interactive Brokers are all experiencing stock price declines in after-hours trading following their respective earnings reports. Western Alliance's deposits beat expectations, but net interest margin and net interest income fell short. Carvana's stock is down ahead of its second-quarter results amid concerns about the company's business model. J.B. Hunt's revenue missed expectations, with higher wages and equipment maintenance expenses impacting margins. Interactive Brokers' second-quarter EPS and revenue also fell short, although total customer accounts increased.
Regional banks like Western Alliance are fighting to prove they are unlike their collapsed rivals after the recent banking crisis. The panic spread manna among the largest lenders in the United States, leaving roughly 4,100 other banks in the lurch. Government officials can’t seem to decide what they want banks like Western Alliance to do, with hints of an openness to mergers between lenders. Western Alliance has become accustomed to shrinking in a hurry, with its stock down about 50 percent from its high point in February. However, the bank is continuing to instruct underwriters to compete fiercely for lending business and boosting the amount it pays on savings accounts to just over 5 percent per year, among the highest in the nation.
US stocks closed higher on Wednesday, with the Nasdaq, S&P 500, and Dow all up over 1%, driven by optimism over the debt ceiling impasse and a surge in shares of regional banks following a positive update by Western Alliance. Financials and Energy were among the top-performing sectors, with regional banks such as Comerica, Zions, and KeyCorp leading the gains. The White House confirmed that President Biden would cut short his planned trip to Australia and Papua New Guinea to oversee more congressional meetings to avoid the so-called X-date of June 1.
Western Alliance's deposit growth for the current quarter exceeded $2 billion, causing shares to rise 12% premarket. TJX Companies' shares fell about 1% after reporting a revenue miss and lower-than-expected guidance. Target surpassed earnings expectations in the fiscal first quarter, but expects sales to remain sluggish in the current quarter. Keysight Technologies' shares soared 7.8% following an earnings beat. Wynn Resorts' shares rose 2.7% after an upgrade to overweight from equal weight at Barclays. Tesla's shares rose 1.5% premarket after announcing the delivery of its first Cybertrucks later this year.
Stock futures are slightly higher as investors await news on the U.S. debt ceiling negotiations. The Dow led the major indexes down with a 1% drop in Tuesday's regular session. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen reiterated her warning that the government needs to raise the limit immediately as the country faces the possibility of defaulting as early as June 1. In addition to tracking any updates on debt ceiling negotiations, investors will watch for data on housing starts and building permits on Wednesday. Western Alliance and Keysight shares rose in after-hours trading, while Doximity slid after issuing weak guidance for the current quarter.
Shares of PacWest Bancorp and other regional banks fell as market jitters resurfaced after a two-day rally in the stock market.
Tesla, PacWest, Western Alliance, and Catalent are among the stocks to watch. PacWest has recovered some ground in early trading, rising 3%, while Six Flags Entertainment saw a 20% jump in shares after reporting that spending at its amusement parks held up despite inflationary pressures on consumers.
Shares of regional banks, including PacWest, Western Alliance, and First Horizon, rebounded in premarket trading after a week of steep drops. The collapse of First Republic earlier in the week had raised concerns about deposit outflows, but PacWest stated it had not seen any unusual outflows. The rapid drops in stocks have led some to suspect foul play by traders, and the American Bankers Association has asked regulators to take action against market manipulation and abusive short-selling practices.
Paramount Global's stock plummeted over 27% after cutting its dividend and reporting earnings below expectations. Regional bank stocks, including PacWest, First Horizon, and Western Alliance, suffered heavy losses. Shopify's stock surged over 27% after beating expectations for the previous quarter. Royal Caribbean's stock rose 6% after beating Wall Street expectations for the quarter. Peloton's stock dropped 12% after reporting a wider-than-expected loss. Qualcomm's stock lost over 6% after sharing lighter-than-expected guidance.
Shares of Western Alliance Bancorporation fell after the bank denied a report that it was exploring a potential sale. The bank's stock had surged earlier in the day following the report, but pulled back after the denial.