The Spanish group is expected on all fronts

It is only to the rich. This is why the few financial institutions who have been through the crisis without too much damage are presented today as potential predators. The British HSBC, Santander Spanish and French BNP Paribas are top of the list. These are three of the banks whose stock market resists the better since a year. The Italian UniCredit and Intesa Sanpaolo, the Deutsche Bank German or Dutch ING appear also on the alert, and Société Générale. In the United States of America, Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo may also try to pull some chestnuts from the fire.

On the French banks, it said careful and "ready to seize the opportunities", provided that they meet the traditional criteria: price, of course, but also the quality of the assets or the margin of manoeuvre to restructure them. "The specifications, it is remain master of the situation, not to jump on an asset which it would not have the full control," said a French banker.

The games are open

In Europe and the United States, the scenarios are multiple. Many are indeed establishments who have seen their prices collapse (despite the rebound Friday, read page 11) and who might seek to obtain or assign affiliates to find cash. The rumours are legion, who see Fortis in search of buyer, that evoke a UBS-Credit Switzerland marriage or who see merge the Spanish Banco Popular and Banco Pastor.

Revel, speculation is well underway since the express reconciliation reached between HBOS and Lloyds TSB with the remains of the British authorities. According to the "Sunday Telegraph", they now lead secret negotiations to save an another ex-'building society', Bradford & Bingley, currently in difficulty. The FSA would be coming into contact with ING and National Australia Bank, as well as with Santander.

The Spanish group is expected on all fronts. In addition to B & B, it is also presented as a potential purchaser Washington Mutual and Bank of Ireland to the United States. Santander provided, end of July, no longer consider acquisitions this year to focus on the integration of Alliance & Leicester and the development of Banco Real to the Brazil. But its President, Emilio Botin, formidable negotiator, showed he was ready to seize any opportunity. Therefore, group has focused recently candidate to the redemption of Postbank, which finally preferred to Deutsche Bank.

In the United States, Citigroup would be also in the running for a purchase of Washington Mutual, the establishment of Seattle seeking a buyer. "The people see us now as a solution, not part of the problem", said Gary Crittenden, Chief Financial Officer of Citigroup, in an interview with the Wall Street Journal, in reference to the huge losses from its bank. California-based Wells Fargo would also in the running for the acquisition of Washington Mutual, whose fate should be resolved "in the coming days", according to the "WSJ".

The games are open. But no one seems ready to make Follies. "There may be assets which we are concerned, but we will not look a large investment bank in the United States, we are especially attentive to small focused acquisitions", said John Hele, Chief Financial Officer of ING. And add: "At the moment, it is not unnecessary to keep a mattress of safety."