The Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) share price is on a rollercoaster on Thursday.
In afternoon trading, shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) bank stock are down 0.5%, at $94.96 per share.
That's significantly better than the 1.6% loss posted by the ASX 200 at this same time. CommBank is also outperforming the other big four banks.
In fact, during the lunch hour, the CBA share price rebounded into the green, briefly up as much as 0.8% at $96.15 per share. That was a large improvement from the earlier $93.35 per share, which saw CommBank trading down 1.3%.
So, why the wild ride today?
Image source: Getty Images
Why all the volatility?
The CBA share price has been unusually volatile as investors consider the possibility of a looming global banking crisis.
As you're likely aware, last week the 18th biggest bank in the United States, SVB Financial Group (NASDAQ: SIVB), went belly up following a liquidity crunch that saw it unable to meet depositors' withdrawal requests.
Silicon Valley Bank shares plummeted 60% before trading was halted. Depositor funds have been guaranteed by the US government. But the now non-operational bank may well leave its shareholders begging for crumbs.
The news saw the CBA share price and other ASX bank shares take a sharp fall this past Friday.
In an unwelcome development, investors are now learning that the US banking woes have spread to Europe.
In overnight trading, shares in Switzerland-based Credit Suisse Group (SWX: CSGN) tanked by 24% to new all-time lows.
This came after the bank's largest investor, Saudi National Bank said it could not offer additional financial support.
The CBA share price may have enjoyed its midday bounce on fresh news that Credit Suisse is getting strong funding support from the nation's central bank.
"Credit Suisse is taking decisive action to pre-emptively strengthen its liquidity by intending to exercise its option to borrow from the Swiss National Bank (SNB) up to CHF 50 billion," the bank reported.
The AU$81 billion lifeline will be welcomed not just by Credit Suisse shareholders, but by bank investors the world over.
CBA share price snapshot
With today's intraday losses factored in, the CBA share price is down just over 7% in 2023.
