According to the newspaper, the Swiss authorities hope that a merger will restore confidence in the banking sector. Talks between UBS and Credit Suisse – the number one and two of the Swiss banks respectively – were to continue this weekend under the direction of the central bank and financial regulator Finma.
There has been great unrest on the stock markets around Credit Suisse after the collapse of several regional banks in the United States. The Swiss central bank has already pledged billions in support to Credit Suisse.