There were at least 15 major issues confronting major European banks that could result in fines of more than EUR100 billion, German private bank Berenberg said.
"Litigation fears have come to cast a long shadow" over the banking industry, Berenberg said. "For those lacking suitable buffers, these potential fines will hamper capital return."
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Analysts at Berenberg estimate that there are still 63 potential fine situations outstanding from the various on-going investigations by regulators and authorities across the globe.
According to analysts, manipulation of currency markets, manipulation of benchmark interest rates and claims relating to the US mortgage market are the three big issues.
"This year has seen an escalation in the level of fines imposed on banks and it is clear that a significant number of issues remain outstanding," said the Berenberg analysts’ note.
"For those lacking suitable buffers, these potential fines will hamper capital return, in our view, and in some situations could trigger capital raising.
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By GlobalDataBerenberg highlighted Barclays and Credit Suisse as two of the banks with the smallest buffers against any potential fines.
While UBS and HSBC appeared to have the biggest buffers, the note said.
Barclays was fined $470 million in 2012 for attempting to rig interest rates, while Credit Suisse paid $2.6 billion in May to settle a US tax probe.
