The announcement followed a frantic trading session in which worries about Credit Suisse’s financial health roiled global markets, alarmed regulators across Europe and the US and prompted some firms to reassess their exposure to the bank.
Credit Suisse Group AG shares surged the most on record after the lender tapped the Swiss National Bank for as much as 50 billion francs (US$54 billion or $72.96 billion) and offered to repurchase debt, seeking to stem a crisis of confidence that has sent shockwaves across the global financial system.
The Zurich-based bank will borrow the money from a central bank liquidity facility and is making a tender offer to buy back up to three billion francs of dollar- and euro-denominated debt, according to a statement released around 1.45 am Zurich time Thursday. Meanwhile, Credit Suisse’s top shareholder said “everything is fine” and the bank isn’t likely to seek more capital, the day after his comments helped spark the biggest-ever slump in the stock.
