Credit Suisse shares slump as traders gauge outlook for embattled lender

Once the Swiss National Bank offered a liquidity lifeline, investors started to worry about the future of Credit Suisse Group AG (SIX:CSGN), which led to a decline in share price and placed the lender on track for its worst weekly loss in three years.

As Bloomberg claimed that Credit Suisse and larger rival UBS Group AG (SIX:UBSG) opposed a prospective forced merger, the action was taken. According to the article, UBS is more interested in growing its wealth management business than taking on Credit Suisse-related risks.

Neither bank responded to a request for comment from Reuters.

In late-morning trading on Friday, UBS shares were just slightly up, pulling up some early gains.

Andre Helfenstein, CEO of Credit Suisse’s Swiss bank, also told television SRF in a late-Thursday interview that the company will be able to continue carrying out its restructuring plans and “operate well in these tumultuous circumstances” with the more than $50 billion in capital from Swiss regulators.

Helfenstein continued by saying that Credit Suisse attempts to stop client outflow but added that the solution “does not happen overnight.”

As the bank’s largest shareholder, Saudi National Bank, announced it would not be adding more capital on Wednesday, the stock of the Zurich-based institution fell by about 25%. Concerns were raised about the decline spreading throughout the European financial system during a week already marked by the ripple effects of Silicon Valley Bank’s failure. These concerns were only slightly mollified when the Swiss government provided Credit Suisse with a financial security net.