logo
UniCredit CEO says to gradually exit Generali investment

UniCredit CEO says to gradually exit Generali investment

Reuters17-06-2025
MILAN, June 17 (Reuters) - UniCredit's (CRDI.MI), opens new tab Chief Executive Andrea Orcel on Tuesday vowed to gradually reduce the stake it has built in the country's top insurer Generali (GASI.MI), opens new tab, ruling out large insurance deals for Italy's second-biggest lender.
Speaking at a conference organised by rival Mediobanca, Orcel said building stakes in a target company as a first step towards potential tie-ups could be a good strategy, given widespread government hostility across Europe to bank M&A.
However, "I want to be very clear, the investment in Generali is not that," Orcel said. "We will be reducing it and exiting it over time."
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Why Chelsea have NOT qualified for 2029 Club World Cup despite winning… but losing finalists PSG have
Why Chelsea have NOT qualified for 2029 Club World Cup despite winning… but losing finalists PSG have

The Sun

timean hour ago

  • The Sun

Why Chelsea have NOT qualified for 2029 Club World Cup despite winning… but losing finalists PSG have

CHELSEA have not qualified for the next Club World Cup competition despite winning the first one after the tournament's restructuring. But Paris Saint-Germain - the team the Blues comprehensively defeated in the final - have punched their ticket for the next championship in four years' time. 3 3 3 The West Londoners thrashed Champions League winners PSG 3-0 on Sunday at the MetLife Stadium in the United States. Enzo Maresca's men dominated the first half and sealed the trophy by half-time thanks to a brace by Cole Palmer and a fine finish by summer signing Joao Pedro. But bizarrely enough, Chelsea were not rewarded with an automatic place in the 2029 Club World Cup. That is because there are 32 places up for grabs with the allocation being distributed between each continent. As per Fifa rankings, Uefa are granted 12 spots, CONMEBOL six, AFC four, CAF four, CONCACAF four, and OFC one. The host nation of the next tournament will also be granted a slot but there is no guaranteed spot for the actual winners, meaning Chelsea must qualify as one of Uefa's 12 clubs. But PSG are already confirmed despite losing the final as they will be one of the four Champions League winners leading to the next tournament. After the Champions League winners are added, the remaining spots will be filled through Uefa ranking. And Chelsea are currently sitting 14th in that respective list, so they may either have to climb up a few places or win the competition by 2029. Nevertheless, the Premier League giants will be leaving the US with far more than just a trophy. Chelsea have also bagged a staggering £97million in earnings.

Central bank independence needs a better defence: Peacock
Central bank independence needs a better defence: Peacock

Reuters

timean hour ago

  • Reuters

Central bank independence needs a better defence: Peacock

LONDON, July 14 (Reuters) - Investors may be fixated on Donald Trump's attacks on the Federal Reserve, but the Bank of England also faces increasing political scrutiny, raising alarm bells about the future of central bank independence. The U.S. president has fired a regular volley of vitriol at Fed Chief Jerome Powell in recent months, demanding interest rates cuts and hinting that he will appoint a presumably more like-minded replacement when Powell's term ends next year. While Trump is not the first U.S. president to try to pressure the Fed since it formally became independent from the Treasury in 1951, his attacks are the most public, and this has caused some market wobbles. That's because history suggests that independent monetary policy is better at keeping prices in check than having politicians control interest rates, as the latter may be keen to keep borrowing costs low no matter what. The U.S. bond market has been unnerved by some of Trump's comments about the Fed in recent months, particularly when he wrote in April that Powell's termination 'cannot come soon enough.' But investors appear to be increasingly inured to the president's rhetoric, believing he will back down before doing anything truly destabilising. Relying on the markets as a safeguard, therefore, may not be enough. The Fed would be well advised to gird its defences in advance of Powell's departure, and one opportunity to do so is its periodic strategic review set to be unveiled this fall. The last review, in 2020, made the Fed's inflation targeting more flexible, allowing for periods of moderately higher inflation to balance times when it dropped below target. At a time when the U.S. president is both pressuring the Fed to lower interest rates and pursuing trade policies that could be inflationary, the Fed would be wise to drop the 'flexible' approach and instead focus on meeting its inflation target at all times. That would send a clear message to the American people that its top priority will be tamping down the cost-of-living pressures that have hit hard since 2021, helping to bolster its legitimacy with the public. On the other side of the pond, the Bank of England is also facing questions about the way it operates. Britain's insurgent Reform Party, which holds a consistent lead in opinion polls, says the Bank wastes billions of pounds of taxpayers' money by paying interest to commercial banks on their reserves and should therefore stop doing this. It has also suggested one or more government officials should sit on the BoE's Monetary Policy Committee. Bank Governor Andrew Bailey pushed back in a published letter, opens new tab, arguing that if the official interest rate was not paid on reserves, the transmission of monetary policy to the real economy would be hampered and banks would be tempted to reduce those holdings, potentially creating a financial stability risk. He also offered a cogent defence of the ongoing benefits of quantitative easing as well as the costs. Importantly, if this government or a future one were to mandate a change to the BoE's reserves regime, it would smack of 'fiscal dominance', whereby high government debts influence the way a central bank operates. Once that box has been opened, it could lead to speculation that interest rate changes were being swayed by the same factor, a massive red flag for investors. The UK government's last root-and-branch review of the Bank's remit was a decade ago. Given everything that has happened since then – Brexit, COVID-19, the cost-of-living crisis – it is time for another look and would give the Bank a forum to clarify its goals and available toolkit. To silence doubters, many issues need addressing, including the diversity of thought on the Bank's policy committees, accountability to parliament and the public, the breadth of its remit, the interplay of monetary policy and financial stability and the Bank's communications. Moreover, given that quantitative easing was a leap into uncharted waters, there are legitimate questions to ask about its effectiveness, its wider impact on the economy and its reversal via quantitative tightening. The Bank is closing in on its Preferred Minimum Range of Reserves, so it is a good time to evaluate this program and then communicate the findings clearly to the public. And now is likely a good time to act. It was only three years ago that then-Prime Minister Liz Truss attacked the Bank for not foreseeing the market's reaction to her ill-fated budget. Attempting to make any changes to BoE policy in such a charged environment would have been very challenging. In stark contrast, current Finance Minister Rachel Reeves, a former BoE employee, has pledged not to interfere with its independence and would thus be far less apt to politicize any Bank action. The same won't necessarily be the case with whomever succeeds her. As former Bank of England Deputy Governor Paul Tucker said at a recent conference in London, the best way for central banks to preserve independence is to 'do their job, stick to the mandate, explain it as clearly as possible. Don't try to intervene in politics'. The problem is that politics may continue to interfere with them. (The views expressed here are those of Mike Peacock, the former head of communications at the Bank of England and a former senior editor at Reuters). Enjoying this column? Check out Reuters Open Interest (ROI),, opens new tab your essential new source for global financial commentary. ROI delivers thought-provoking, data-driven analysis of everything from swap rates to soybeans. Markets are moving faster than ever. ROI,, opens new tab can help you keep up. Follow ROI on LinkedIn,, opens new tab and X., opens new tab

Abound Credit Union picks Jack Henry Symitar core platform
Abound Credit Union picks Jack Henry Symitar core platform

Finextra

timean hour ago

  • Finextra

Abound Credit Union picks Jack Henry Symitar core platform

Jack Henry (Nasdaq: JKHY) announced today that Abound Credit Union has selected the Symitar® core platform and its complementary cloud-based solutions to modernize the banking experience for its more than 130,000 members across Kentucky. 0 This content is provided by an external author without editing by Finextra. It expresses the views and opinions of the author. Founded 75 years ago as a small institution serving 10 Fort Knox employees, Abound Credit Union has grown to $2.4 billion in assets and is now a pillar of southern and central Kentucky communities. The credit union found it increasingly challenging to keep up with members' needs and attract younger generations with its legacy technology and workarounds. It needed a future-ready, flexible technology platform that would support growth without sacrificing the brand's personal connections. Jack Henry's open, cloud-native platform gives Abound a technology foundation that can support the credit union in its next chapter. 'Jack Henry understands our vision and what it takes to cater to our members' diverse financial situations,' said Ray Springsteen, CEO at Abound Credit Union. 'Its open platform seamlessly integrates third-party solutions, enabling members to have the financial services they rely on, while easily adding new capabilities as needs change. This empowers us to focus our resources on serving Kentuckians for the next 75 years and beyond.' Abound will leverage many of Jack Henry's complementary integrated solutions to deliver a more personalized, secure, and convenient experience. For example, Jack Henry Data Hub™ will provide real-time member insights, the Banno Digital Platform™ offers an intuitive digital experience, and the Banno Digital Toolkit™ allows for easy customization and smooth integration with third-party providers. Jack Henry's business banking, payments, lending, and financial crimes solutions also will enhance the credit union's offerings. 'Our technology modernization strategy is designed to empower institutions like Abound to embrace change, drive their own innovation, and deliver value to every member,' said Brynn Ammon, President of Credit Union Solutions at Jack Henry. 'The credit union is leveraging our foundation to create its own banking experience, one that rewards and brings value to a diverse member base. We're honored to help them build a resilient technology plan that will support their growth and further deepen their impact in Kentucky.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store