美國銀行持股中國建行將獲巨利

美國銀行(Bank of America)昨日表示，對中國建設銀行(China Construction Bank)的投資目前可能獲利逾300億美元，這突顯一些西方銀行通過持股中國的銀行，獲得了豐厚的賬面利潤。

Bank of America yesterday said it was sitting on a potential gain of more than $30bn on its investment in China Construction Bank, highlighting the paper profits some western banks have made on holdings in their Chinese counterparts.

兩年前，美國銀行出資30億美元獲得中國建行8.5%的股權，以及一項以極低價格將持股比例提高至19.9%的選擇權。美國銀行計劃第四季度通過現有股權計入約160億美元的所得。

BofA paid $3bn two years ago for an 8.5 per cent stake in CCB and an option to increase to 19.9 per cent at a very low price. The bank plans to record a gain of about $16bn on its existing stake in the fourth quarter.

美國銀行首席財務官喬o普賴斯(Joe Price)表示："從賬面上看，我們的潛在獲利超過了300億美元。"他補充稱，在未來2至3年內，該銀行將能夠兌現其持有的部分股權。

"On paper we have a potential gain in excess of $30bn," said Joe Price, BofA's chief financial officer, adding that it would be able to cash in some of its holding over the next 2 to 3 years.

包括匯豐(HSBC)、蘇格蘭皇家銀行(Royal Bank of Scotland)、高盛(Goldman Sachs)和美林(Merrill Lynch)在內的一些其它西方銀行，也對中國的銀行進行了類似的投資。由于中國股價飆升，這些持股帶來了豐厚的利潤。

Other western banks, including HSBC, Royal Bank of Scotland, Goldman Sachs and Merrill Lynch, made similar investments in Chinese banks that have generated large gains thanks to soaring Chinese stock prices.

美國銀行的潛在獲利，足以完全抵消其迄今為止因美國次級抵押貸款危機所面臨的問題。

BofA's potential gain more than outweighs the problems it faces so far as a result of the US subprime mortgage meltdown.

普賴斯昨日表示，因持有與次級抵押貸款相關的資產，美國銀行正面臨著另外30億美元的減記。這一估計虧損額與一些分析師的預期相符，紐約股市午盤時該股上漲3%至45.40美元，以此推算，該銀行的市值僅略高于2000億美元。

Mr Price yesterday said BofA was facing a further $3bn of writedowns on its subprime-related holdings. The estimated losses were in line with some analysts' expectations and the shares were up 3 per cent at $45.40 at noon in New York, valuing the bank at just over $200bn.

此前的會計處理中，美國銀行所持的建行股權以成本計價，而根據新的會計準則，必須"按市場價衡量"。上周這些股權的價值約為190億美元。

BofA had carried the CCB stake in its books at cost but has to "mark it to market" under new accounting rules. The stake was worth about $19bn last week.

美國銀行大發橫財與競爭對手花旗集團(Citigroup)形成了鮮明對比。花旗經過長期競購才獲得廣東發展銀行(Guangdong Development Bank)的控制權。廣發銀行是中國南方一家陷入困境的銀行。

BofA's windfall contrasts with rival Citigroup, which fought a long battle to get control of Guangdong Development Bank, a struggling lender in the south.

花旗昨日披露了其資本市場業務進一步改組計劃。花旗美國信貸業務主管查德o利特(Chad Leat)和歐洲信貸業務主管馬克o沃森(Mark Watson)在重組中正遭到排擠。

Citi yesterday unveiled a further shake-up of its capital markets operation. Chad Leat, Citi's US head of credit, and Mark Watson, his European counterpart, are being sidelined in the reorganisation.

紐約股市午盤，花旗股價上漲近5%。

Citi's share price was up nearly 5 per cent at noon in New York.