Deutsche-Commerzbank merger talk resurfaces

Skyscrapers including the headquarters of the European Central Bank (ECB), left, Commerzbank AG, center, and twin tower headquarters of Deutsche Bank AG, right, stand illuminated at dusk in the financial district in Frankfurt, Germany, on Tuesday, Aug. 13. 2019. Germany’s economy shrank in the second quarter, ramping up pressure on Chancellor Angela Merkel to unleash fiscal stimulus as manufacturers reel from a U.S.-China trade war. Photographer: Alex Kraus/Bloomberg

LONDON: Five years after Deutsche Bank and Commerzbank aborted an attempt to merge, an uncertain outlook for bank profitability and Germany’s need to plug a hole in its budget are rekindling speculation about a potential deal.

Germany has said it is looking at all options to raise funds by selling stakes in some of the 100 or more companies it owns.