• Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) is facing a financial crisis due to the tightening of monetary policies and the Federal Reserve’s hawkish macroeconomic view.
• SVB launched a $1.75 billion securities sale in an attempt to raise capital and recover losses, but this caused further concern among investors.
• Californian regulators have closed down SVB, leaving employees uncertain about their future and investors worried that the bank cannot cover its losses.
Silicon Valley Bank Crisis
Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) has followed the financial freefall amid Federal Reserve (Fed) Chairman Jerome Powell’s hawkish macroeconomic view and tightening policies to control inflation rates. With over 40 years in the market, Silicon Valley Bank is facing a significant downturn in its shares, falling more than 60% since Thursday.
Raising Capital
On Wednesday, the go-to bank for venture capitalists and tech startups launched a massive $1.75 billion securities sale to raise capital and try to recoup its earlier losses, raising concerns among investors. According to several reports, the financial institution was closed by Californian regulators.
What Is Happening?
Before today’s events, the Silicon Valley Financial Group was considering options for exiting the crisis, including a sale after the heavy lender sent shockwaves through global markets and battered its shares on the Nasdaq stock market. According to Reuters report, Silicon Valley Bank needed proceeds from this security sale to plug a $1.8 billion hole caused by selling a $21 billion loss-making bond portfolio consisting primarily of U.S Treasuries. Investors were concerned if capital raised would be enough cover losses as technology sector that bank serves was affected by inflation control policies resulting in decline of fortunes of tech startups – leading up to current situation with SVB being shut down by California regulator till further notice.
CEO Assurances
Silicon Valley Bank CEO Gregory Becker has been calling customers to assure them their capital is “safe” in the bank which ultimately proved inaccurate due uncertainty around next steps after closure of bank by regulators .
Conclusion
This financial crisis with Silicon Valley Bank is one of largest failures in history as it’s core customer base – venture capitalists & tech startups are struggling due tightening of monetary policies & Fed’s macroeconomic view which resulted in closure of SVB by California regulators till further notice with uncertain future ahead & concerns around whether capital raised will be sufficient enough cover all losses incurred till now..