大手銀行黒字 成長戦略で金融の役割果たせ

The Yomiuri Shimbun (May. 20, 2010)
Major banks should play role in growth strategy
大手銀行黒字　成長戦略で金融の役割果たせ（5月19日付・読売社説）

Even though the nation's leading banks have overcome the severe state of affairs they found themselves in, future prospects are far from rosy. Their earnings reports for the business year ending in March clearly indicate the financial sector needs to tackle a number of problems.
　最悪期は乗り切ったものの、今後の展望は開けていない。大手銀行の２０１０年３月期決算を見ると、日本の金融業界が抱える多くの課題が浮かび上がってくる。

Consolidated settlement of accounts for the country's six major banking groups showed that they all posted group net profits, which when combined exceeded 1 trillion yen. Their business performances are a significant improvement over the previous year, when four of the groups reported losses.
　大手銀行６グループの連結決算は、税引き後利益がそろって黒字となり、利益の合計は１兆円を超えた。４グループが赤字だった前年から業績は急回復した。

This can be attributed to reduced bad debt reserves as the economy has picked up. The business recovery has helped reduce the number of major companies collapsing and improved bank customers' businesses. The rise in stock prices, which plunged sharply in the previous business year, also helped improve the financial health of banks as a result of reduced appraisal losses in stockholdings.
　景気が持ち直し、不良債権の処理費用が少なくなったおかげだ。大企業の倒産が減り、取引先の業績も改善した。前年に大きく下げた株価が回復して、保有する株式の評価損などが縮小したことも幸いした。

However, bank profits are only about one-third of what they were before the global financial crisis hit following the collapse of Lehman Brothers.
　ただし、利益の規模はリーマン・ショック前の３分の１ほどの低水準にとどまっている。

Using a point system, we can say that although the banks racked up few "minus points," or losses, they still failed to raise their scores sufficiently.
　損失という「減点」は少なかったが、肝心な収益の「得点」は伸び悩んだということだろう。

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Don't restrict lending

Four banking groups saw declines in net business profits--those incurred from lendings and other core businesses. Though Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc. and Mizuho Financial Group Inc. chalked up increased profits for the 2009 business year, they were inflated by profits from bond transactions.
　銀行の本業のもうけを示す業務純益は、４グループで前年実績を下回った。増益だった三菱ＵＦＪフィナンシャル・グループと、みずほフィナンシャルグループも、債券売買の運用益などでかさ上げされた面が強い。

Major banks are not the only ones affected. Commercial financial institutions as a whole are experiencing declines in outstanding loans and shrinking net interest margin. But banks should not restrict loans by overreacting to risks and depending too much on bond investment and other operations to ensure profits.
　大手行に限らず民間金融機関はこのところ貸出残高が減り、利ざやも縮小傾向にある。過剰にリスクを恐れて融資を絞り、債券投資などに収益を頼り過ぎるのは、銀行本来の姿とは言えまい。

After government-affiliated financial institutions have taken steps to deal with the lingering crisis, private-sector banks will need to fulfill their financing functions, including raising funds for small and midsize companies, which are the lifeblood nourishing the Japanese economy.
　公的金融機関による危機対応が一巡した後は、民間の銀行が、中小企業の資金繰りも含め、日本経済の血流である金融機能を、しっかり担う必要がある。

It is essential for major banks to contribute to the country's economic growth, which is being adversely affected by deflation. The public and private sectors should cooperate to carry out growth strategies to prevent the economy from going downhill again.
　特に大手行は、新たな経済成長への貢献も重要だ。長期デフレで景気回復はもたついている。官民挙げた成長戦略で、日本経済の衰退を防がねばならない。

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Selecting promising firms

Banks should lend funds to companies in promising fields to support the government's growth strategy.
　成長する分野や企業を選ぶ「目利き力」を磨き、融資で成長戦略を後押ししてほしい。

Businesses in emerging economies in Asia and elsewhere are highly promising. In this respect, it will become increasingly important to provide appropriate financial services to infrastructure projects and companies that establish branches in such countries.
　アジアなど新興市場のビジネスは有望だ。現地の社会資本（インフラ）整備や海外進出する日本企業に対して、的確な金融サービスを提供していくことが、ますます重要になる。

As there are a limited number of financial experts versed in the various laws and customs in such countries, it is crucial to secure and train such human resources.
　国ごとに違う法律や慣行にも詳しい金融のプロは少ない。人材の確保や育成を急ぐべきだろう。

Healthy financial conditions are also vital for banks to survive in this competitive world. Stricter international requirements on banks' capital adequacy are scheduled to start at the end of 2012. Major banks contend they have been prepared to comply with this requirement since last year.
　財務の健全性も、国際競争を勝ち抜く条件だ。１２年末には自己資本の充実に関する国際規制の強化が始まる。大手行は、昨年来の増資で備えを固めたとしている。

Yet, financial markets around the world are still volatile due partly to global stock price declines that have spread from Europe. Banks must remain alert to possible confusion in the markets.
　だが、欧州発の世界同時株安などで国際市場は荒れ模様だ。波乱への警戒を怠ってはならない。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 19, 2010)
（2010年5月19日01時44分 読売新聞）