Latest news with #capitalRequirements
Globe and Mail
21 hours ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
US Regulators Mull Easing Banks' Capital Rule on Treasury Trades
In a move aimed at enhancing liquidity in the $29 trillion U.S. Treasury market, U.S. regulators are planning to ease a key capital requirement that has long constrained large banks' trading activity. The Federal Reserve, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and Office of the Comptroller of the Currency are reportedly considering a proposal to lower the enhanced supplementary leverage ratio (SLR) by up to 1.5 percentage points for the largest U.S. banks, including JPMorgan Chase JPM, Goldman Sachs GS, Morgan Stanley MS, and Wells Fargo WFC. Details of the Proposed Capital Rule Adjustment for Banks Currently, all U.S. banks are obligated to hold capital equal to at least 3% of their total exposures, including assets and off-balance sheet items like derivatives. The largest global banks are required to maintain an additional 2%, bringing their minimum leverage ratio to 5%. The proposal would reduce the capital requirement under the SLR for bank holding companies from 5% to a range of 3.5% to 4.5%, while subsidiaries could see their threshold drop from 6% to the same range. How Easing Capital Rule Impact Banks? Fed Chair Jerome Powell has raised concerns that strict capital rules may limit banks from holding Treasuries, particularly during times of volatility. Under the current framework, Treasuries are treated in the same category as higher-risk assets, which can reduce incentives for banks to trade or hold them. Michelle Bowman, the Fed's vice chair for supervision, earlier this month, stated that leverage rules are meant to support capital strength. However, when these ratios are set too high, they may limit market activity and reduce liquidity. A proposed easing of these capital requirements could benefit major banks such as JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and Wells Fargo by reducing the amount of capital they must hold in reserve. This would give them more flexibility to expand operations, particularly in lending and Treasury trading. In addition, lower capital buffers could enhance bank profitability by freeing up funds for investment and business growth. However, the overall effectiveness of the changes will depend on how banks respond and whether regulators introduce further reforms. Currently, JPMorgan, Morgan Stanley, and Wells Fargo carry a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), while Goldman Sachs has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Only $1 to See All Zacks' Buys and Sells We're not kidding. Several years ago, we shocked our members by offering them 30-day access to all our picks for the total sum of only $1. No obligation to spend another cent. Thousands have taken advantage of this opportunity. Thousands did not - they thought there must be a catch. Yes, we do have a reason. We want you to get acquainted with our portfolio services like Surprise Trader, Stocks Under $10, Technology Innovators, and more, that closed 256 positions with double- and triple-digit gains in 2024 alone. See Stocks Now >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (GS): Free Stock Analysis Report Wells Fargo & Company (WFC): Free Stock Analysis Report JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM): Free Stock Analysis Report Morgan Stanley (MS): Free Stock Analysis Report
Bloomberg
11-06-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
UBS Expects Gradual Rule Change on Swiss Deferred Tax Assets
Newly-proposed rules on how to value deferred tax assets will likely be introduced gradually, UBS Group AG Chief Financial Officer Todd Tuckner said, in a step that would delay their impact on the bank's capital requirements. 'It is reasonable to assume that there will be a phase-in period,' Tuckner said Wednesday at an investor conference hosted by Goldman Sachs, referring to capital deductions for DTAs and software.
Bloomberg
12-05-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
UBS and Switzerland Should Play Their Game of Chicken Nicely
A game of chicken between UBS Group AG and Swiss politicians is coming. The government is due to unveil a draft law to beef up too-big-to-fail rules in early June, which threatens a big hike in capital for Switzerland's only major global bank. The bigger the headline number, the more extreme the reaction from UBS is likely to be. That could mean claims it will have to move country or break itself up — either of which would leave one of the world's major banking centers without a serious player of its own. In reality, both sides will likely swerve. UBS needs Switzerland as much as the country needs it. Also, the bank has more time and more leeway to deal with some of the stiffer demands likely to be made than it's (understandably) willing to acknowledge.
