Oldest Bank In The World Plunges, Halted As Chairman Resigns In Aftermath Of Latest Derivatives Fiasco
by Tyler Durden
ZeroHedge.com
01/23/2013
Last week, following documentation from Deutsche Bank (and Nomura), it became clear that Italy’s Monte Paschi (BMPS) bank (the oldest in the world) has engaged in derivatives with the German and Japanese banks in order to save itself during the financial crisis. The derivatives, according to Bloomberg, were done off-market and allowed the booking of large upfront gains which covered losses optically that the bank faced as European liquidity dried up completely – the offsetting ‘losses’ are now coming due. Today, amid growing outcry over the ‘deal’, the former head of BMPS has resigned. Bloomberg reports that Giuseppe Mussari, now Italy’s top banking lobbyist, was the Chairman of BMPS during the derivative deal period. BMPS shares were halted after plunging dramatically as investors are still unclear of the extent of losses it faces on derivatives. If that was not enough chicanery, there is a twist in that none other than Mario Draghi, as Director of the Bank of Italy, would have had to vet Mussari (and his banks’ regulated books) during this period – as BMPS accumulated what is obviously undocumented derivatives positions to intentionally obscure losses. Once again, years later, it seems the truth comes out – and of course we would expect no-one to go to jail – and the lying in Europe (then and now) continues unabated – as the reality of financial system health remains hidden from view.
The Rest…HERE
