SWEDEN: RECENT IMPACT OF THE FINANCIAL CRISIS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 STOCKHOLM 000454 SIPDIS E.O. 12958:N/A TAGS: ECIN ECON EFIN PGOV SW SUBJECT: SWEDEN: RECENT IMPACT OF THE FINANCIAL CRISIS ¶1. Summary: Based on stress tests, the Financial Supervisory Authority stated that Sweden would be able to handle the losses incurred by its major banks on loans made to Baltic countries. The situation in Latvia became somewhat more stable when the Government was able to present its plans to reduce the budget deficit, announcing a 10 percent expenditure cut. The budget cut simplified the EU's and the IMF's decision on disbursement of $1.7 billion in loans. In early July, the Riksbank reduced the repo rate (the rate that banks receive or pay when depositing or borrowing funds at the Riksbank for a period of seven days) to 0.25 percent. Unemployment reached 9.8 percent late June, corresponding to an increase of nearly 75 percent compared with the same month last year. Deflation is expected to reach 1.5 percent by the fall when consumer prices are expected to recover. While many companies struggle with the aftermath of the crisis, some large Swedish companies have posted surprisingly good results in terms of profit, investments and incoming orders. End Summary. The Swedish Banking Sector -------------- ¶2. The Riksbank announced on June 10 that it will borrow $4.2 billion from the European Central Bank (ECB) to preserve its foreign exchange reserves and attempt to guarantee financial stability. On the same day, the country's Financial Supervisory Authority stated that Sweden would be able to handle the losses incurred by its major banks on loans made to the Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Predictions were based on two stress-tests conducted on the Swedish banks, both of which showed that the banks will be able to manage the situation. The loans are estimated at around $20 billion. Because an average of nearly 80 percent of the loans taken out by the Baltic countries are foreign currency loans (mostly from Swedish banks lending in Euros),any drops in the value of their domestic currencies makes it increasingly difficult to service the loans. This increases the likelihood of non-performing loans and thus poses risks for Swedish banks holding them. ¶3. However, while Latvia's numbers are troubling and potential devaluation is a harrowing possibility, this does not spell disaster for Sweden and its overexposed banks. The situation became somewhat more stable in mid-June when the Latvian Government was able to present its plans to reduce the budget deficit, announcing a 10 percent expenditure cut. The budget cut simplified the EU's and the IMF's decision on disbursement of a previously announced $1.7 billion loan, scheduled to be paid out by the EU in late July. This development eliminated the risk of a Latvian devaluation in the short term. Latvia is an extremely small economy, and the total exposure of the Baltics to Sweden's banks only accounts for 8.5 percent of Swedish lending, of which only 2.5 percent (or roughly $22 billion) goes to Latvia. In addition, Sweden's relatively large economy is fundamentally sound. That does not mean that Sweden is in the clear, and drops in industrial production and further GDP contractions are very likely. ¶4. In early July, the Riksbank reduced the repo rate to 0.25 percent. The repo rate is the Riksbank's most important policy rate, which is used to influence short-term market rates. It is the rate that banks receive or pay when depositing or borrowing funds at the Riksbank for a period of seven days. Governor Stefan Ingves says "there are good reasons for allowing the repo rate to remain at this low level for a relatively long period." The Governor also notes that there has been a further fall in GDP in Sweden since the monetary policy meeting in April. This drop in GDP is mainly a result of economic weakening abroad. It is mainly Swedish companies' investments and exports that have fallen more than previously estimated. The labor market is therefore continuing to deteriorate quickly, and household consumption is falling more than expected. ¶5. In a revision on July 10, the Swedish debt office increased sharply its forecast for the budget deficit this year due to increased lending in the wake of the global financial crisis. This lending was notably to crisis-stricken Iceland and to Sweden's central bank, the Riksbank, so it can help Swedish banks heavily exposed to the beleaguered Baltic countries. The budget deficit was expected to swell to $26 billion (approximately 6 percent of GDP) this year, according to the National Debt Office, a big increase from its March forecast of $17.7 billion. "The Debt Office will lend the equivalent of SEK 100 billion in foreign currency to the Riksbank and SEK 7 billion to Iceland. The forecast for 2010 includes a loan of SEK 8 billion to Latvia," it said in a statement. The SEK 100 billion ($13 billion) is to restore the level of foreign currency reserves. This is necessary because the Riksbank has lent part of its foreign currency reserve to Swedish banks. It has also entered into swap agreements with the central banks of Iceland, Estonia and Latvia, and increased its commitments to the IMF. The Riksbank needs to maintain its readiness to supply Swedish banks with the liquidity required in foreign currency. The strengthening of the foreign currency reserve is temporary and will be concluded when the Riksbank phases out the measures taken in connection with the financial crisis. STOCKHOLM 00000454 002 OF 003 Unemployment -------------- ¶6. According to month-end figures from Sweden's National Public Employment Agency, total unemployment reached 9.8 percent in late June. This corresponds to an increase of nearly 75 percent compared with the same month last year. In June, around 10,000 people were given redundancy notices, twice as many as the same month a year ago. Employment minister Sven Otto Littorin fears that the number of unemployed will continue to rise. "There is a certain lag, and I believe that unfortunately we will see a continuation in these depressing numbers for the rest of the year," Littorin told the TT news agency. He warned that unemployment may continue to rise next year, and that even if the business cycle turns, it may take a significant period of time before unemployment falls again. The government has not discussed further support measures according to Littorin. "No, the $500 million assistance package for job market efforts that we presented in December included an allowance for this autumn," he said. Deflation -------------- ¶7. Consumer prices in Sweden dropped by 0.6 percent in June on a 12-month basis, according to new figures from Statistics Sweden. The June fall in prices is the third month in a row where Sweden has experienced negative inflation, or deflation. The Riksbank's lowering of the interest rate is believed to be the main underlying reason, since it has lowered the households housing expenses. Measured in consumer prices, this is the largest fall in ten years, says Robert Bergqvist, chief economist at SEB. He predicts a negative figure of 1.5 percent in the fall before the current deflation pattern comes to an end. Sweden experienced several months of strong inflation last year before tailing off rapidly. In September, inflation was as high as 4.4 percent year-on-year. Sweden's central bank has set itself an inflation target of 2.0 percent year-on-year. Business Sector Performance -------------- ¶8. While many companies struggle with the aftermath from the crisis, some of the large Swedish companies show surprisingly good results in terms of profit, investments and incoming orders. Swedish phone network giant Ericsson recently announced plans to invest $1.5 billion in South Korea over the next five years. Ericsson will establish a research center in South Korea to develop environmentally friendly fourth-generation telecommunications technologies with firms in Asian countries. The Swedish firm also plans to increase the number of employees at its South Korean unit from 80 to about 1,000. ¶9. Investor, the industrial holding firm controlled by the influential Wallenberg family, announced net profits of $2.14 billion for April 1 to June 30 after a $0.45 billion net loss a year earlier. The company, which holds stakes more than 130 firms worldwide, is widely considered as a good bellwether for the Swedish business climate. Chief executive Borje Ekholm said that while the global economy was "on the way" to recovery, hopes of a swift end to the recent turmoil were premature. Ekholm pointed to rising unemployment and high levels of personal debt among US consumers. "Continued investments in developing a strong presence for our companies in these (Asian) markets will be strategically important and rewarding," Ekholm said. ¶10. For the first time in 14 months, European car sales were not declining. However, Saab Automobile went against the trend with sales dropping 62 percent compared to the same period last year. Saab currently holds 0.2 percent of the European market. Things may turn around when all details regarding the sale to Swedish sports car manufacturer Koenigsegg are settled. A number of new models will be introduced shortly, giving the company a chance to restore normality. Volvo Cars' sales decreased 14.5 percent, yet showing a slow-down in the decrease compared to the first three months of the year. As a comparison, German car sales were up 40.5 percent in June, partly due to the Euro 2,500 discount given on a new car if the buyer decides to scrap the old one simultaneously. Household Sector Performance -------------- ¶11. As severe as the economic crisis has been on the country, there are still many winners coming out of it. People with jobs, house and flexible interest rates can all benefit from the 2009 crisis as both interest rates and taxes are at low levels. On the other hand, the number of unemployed is higher than in a long time, resulting in alienation. ¶12. A record number of homes are up for sale in Sweden, with one of the country's largest real estate websites featuring more listings than during the turbulent days of autumn 2008. According to recent figures, Hemnet.se featured 16,221 apartments for sale the week STOCKHOLM 00000454 003 OF 003 ending July 4th, the Dagens Nyheter newspaper reports. The figure represents a 31 percent increase compared to the same period last year. In addition, 17,997 detached houses were also listed, an increase of 24 percent compared to the same time 2008. Since the fall of 2008, interest rates have fallen steadily, making it easier for people to sell their homes, causing a rise in prices and a drop in inventories during the first three months of 2009. SILVERMAN