Articles About Securities

Author:
James I. Clark III
Posted:
10.24.2011

Federal Reserve Asks for Comments Before Implementing the Volcker Rule

Federal regulators have requested public comment on the Volcker Rule — the Dodd-Frank Act restrictions that would ban American banks from making short-term trades of financial instruments for their own accounts and prevent them from owning or sponsoring hedge funds and private-equity funds.  The Volcker rule, released by the Federal Reserve, the Federal Deposit Insurance […]

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Author:
James I. Clark III
Posted:
04.05.2011

The Fed’s 2010 Profit? A Cool $81.7 Billion

The Federal Reserve made some serious money in 2010. The central bank’s profit soared to $81.7 billion, a record high, primarily from growing interest earnings on federal agency and government-sponsored enterprise mortgage-backed securities.  The Fed’s balance sheet — which also can be monitored monthly — ballooned to $2.43 trillion, up $193 billion from 2009, as […]

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Author:
James I. Clark III
Posted:
03.30.2011

The Fed Sends 19 Biggest Banks Back to the Treadmill

The Federal Reserve’s second round of stress tests requires the 19 largest U.S. banks to examine their capital levels against a worst-possible-case scenario of another recession with the unemployment rate hovering above 8.9 percent. The banks were instructed to test how their loans, securities, earnings, and capital performed when compared with at least three possible […]

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Author:
James I. Clark III
Posted:
01.26.2011

Fed: Banks Easing Up on Credit to Hedge Funds

The Federal Reserve has observed that Wall Street’s big banks eased credit terms for hedge funds and private equity firms in the 4th quarter of 2010.   More banks believe that credit terms have “eased somewhat” than those that think it has “tightened somewhat” in the last three months of 2010, according to the Fed’s year-end […]

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Author:
James I. Clark III
Posted:
11.08.2010

Fannie, Freddie Bailouts Could Cost the Taxpayers $154 Billion

The ultimate cost of bailing out Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac could cost as much as $154 billion unless the economy improves, according to a government report.  The mortgage giants rescue – which has kept the housing market on life supports – already has cost $135 billion to cover losses on home loans in default.  […]

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Author:
Tom Silva
Posted:
08.31.2010

Anthony Downs On Financial Reform

he nation’s financial system needs significantly more regulation than exists now.  The lack of tough regulatory powers strongly impacted the recent financial crash and the Great Recession that ensued.  The good news is that the Obama administration is moving firmly in this direction with financial reform legislation a critical item on its agenda.  This is […]

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Author:
Tom Silva
Posted:
06.25.2009

Investment Banking in an Economic Meltdown

Investment banks are hunkering down to preserve capital, primarily because there are grave concerns about current property valuations, says Charles Krawitz, Senior Loan Sales Asset Manager, Fifth Third Bank, in an interview for The Alter Group podcasts on real estate.  Banks are reluctant to lend $10 million to a property that might be worth only […]

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