Credit Suisse Stock plunges 20% amid Concerns over Reforms and Financial Support

Credit Suisse faced a major blow as its stock plunged to a record low on March 15, casting concerns over the banking group's future.

Credit Suisse faced a major blow as its stock plunged to a record low on March 15, casting concerns over the banking group's future. The trading activities of the Credit Suisse stock were suspended several times in the morning of March 15, leading to a plummet of more than 24%. Although the shares have recovered slightly, they are still down more than 20% for the session.

The banking group's biggest investor, the Saudi National Bank (SNB), confirmed that it could no longer provide financial support to Credit Suisse, leading to the collapse of the Credit Suisse shares. SNB Chairman Ammar Al Khudairy mentioned that the SNB is satisfied with Credit Suisse's reform plan, but no longer able to provide further financial support to the Swiss bank because ownership will exceed 10%, as it is a legal matter.

Credit Suisse Stock plunges 20% amid Concerns over Reforms and Financial Support ph: instagram@construyenpais

In 2022, SNB acquired a 9.9% stake in Credit Suisse as part of the Swiss bank's $4.2 billion fundraising program. Credit Suisse is currently undertaking large-scale strategic overhauls to enhance the performance of its investment banking business and address a range of risks.

In the face of mounting investor concerns, Axel Lehmann, Chairman of Credit Suisse, declined to comment on whether the company will need government support in the future. When asked if he would rule out some form of support, he refused to comment stating that it was not the subject of discussion.

Although Credit Suisse witnessed significant growth in the past through its private banking and wealth management, recent events have been a cause for concern. Investors also became wary when Credit Suisse said it had identified "significant weaknesses" in its 2021-2022 report and was taking steps to fix it. Additionally, the bank had to delay the release of its annual report after the SEC questioned its cash flow statement from 2019 to 2020.

The recent turmoil surrounding Credit Suisse brings into question the bank's ability to navigate through difficult financial situations. The bank has a high capital ratio and claims to have a healthy balance sheet, but recent events indicate that the banking group still has a long way to go to address issues of concerns such as reforms and financial liquidity. As Credit Suisse embarks on its strategic overhaul, it remains to be seen how effective it will be in improving its performance and maintaining the confidence of investors.