#Barr – Federal Financial Analytics

24 03, 2023

DAILY032423

Eliza Allen2023-03-24T17:13:54-04:00March 24th, 2023|2- Daily Briefing|

GOP Expands Attack On Fed Supervisory Actions

In yet another letter ahead of next week’s hearings, Senate Banking Ranking Member Scott (R-SC) and all Republican Members of the committee asked Fed Chairman Powell and FRB-SF President Daly a series of questions asserting that SVB’s failure reflects significant supervisory lapses.

FSOC Breaks The Glass

Although there is no formal announcement, FSOC will hold what is clearly an emergency, closed meeting later today per a new media advisory.

Top HFSC Republicans Join SVB-Supervisory Inquest

Following a similar letter from Senate Banking Republicans earlier today, HFSC Subcommittee Chairmans Barr (R-KY) and Huizenga (R-MI) along with Rep. Kim (R-CA) sent yet another letter to Vice Chair Barr and FRB-SF President Daly also demanding detailed supervisory-related information on SVB.

Reserve Banks Promise to Bear Some Sometime Soon

Under ever-growing pressure, all of the Federal Reserve Banks today under the New York Fed’s aegis announced a common transparency policy.

HFSC GOP Targets State Bank Supervisors

Top House Republicans today brought state banking commissions into the SVB and SBNY fray, asking each for extensive details on recent actions and setting the April 6 deadline now evident in all recent GOP requests in this arena.

GOP Leaders Also Demand FSOC Answers

HFSC Subcommittee Chairman Barr (R-KY) and Huizenga (R-MI) today also sent letters to FSOC Chair Yellen and Council of Inspectors General on Financial Oversight Chair Delmar requesting detailed information on meetings surrounding the banking agencies’ March 12 decision to invoke a systemic risk exception for SVB …

22 03, 2023

DAILY032223

Eliza Allen2023-03-22T17:37:57-04:00March 22nd, 2023|2- Daily Briefing|

FTC Builds On Treasury Cloud Concerns, Seeks Competition, AI Views

Signaling apprehension about a number of risks outlined in a recent Treasury report, the FTC today requested comment on the business practices of cloud computing providers.

Scott, Warren Reach Over Partisan, Ideological Divide to Blast the Fed

Demonstrating the confluence of populist and progressive thinking about the Fed we anticipated at the start of this year, Sens. Rick Scott (R-FL) and Warren (D-MA) have introduced legislation mandating that the Fed’s inspector general be fully independent of the chair and board of governors.

Fed Under Still More Pressure to Boost Regional-Bank Supervision

Sen. Warren (D-MA) continued her prolific letter-writing campaign, today also joining with Sens. Duckworth (D-IL), Blumenthal (D-CT), Sanders (I-VT), Reed (D-RI), Hirono (D-HI), Markey (D-MA), King (I-ME), Whitehouse (D-RI), Smith (D-MN), Van Hollen (D-MD), and Schatz (D-HI) to call upon Vice Chairman Barr quickly to heighten regulatory standards for banking organizations between $100 and $250 billion.

Powell Protests Suggestions Of Fed Supervisory Error

At his press conference today, Chairman Powell sought to defend the Fed so vigorously that some of his comments may ignite still more criticism.

Yellen Denies FDIC-Coverage Rewrite, Suggests Need for Liquidity-Rule Revisions

In her appearance today before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, Treasury Secretary Yellen refuted press reports that Treasury is considering significant deposit-insurance coverage expansion, saying only that the banking system is safe and it is too soon to consider structural reforms.

Daily032223.pdf…

14 03, 2023

DAILY031423

Eliza Allen2023-03-14T16:55:33-04:00March 14th, 2023|2- Daily Briefing|

JEC Chairman Heaps SVB Blame on Trump-Era Rollbacks

Echoing Democratic statements made earlier in the day, JEC Chairman-Designate Heinrich (D-NM) released a statement late yesterday blaming the Trump Administration’s 2018 regulatory “rollbacks” for SVB’s failure, noting that the committee warned in 2018 that the rollbacks would result in SVB being subject to “nearly none” of Dodd-Frank’s enhanced regulations.

Warren Lambasts Powell on SVB Inquiry

Expanding her attack against FRB Chairman Powell, Sen. Warren (D-MA) today demanded that he recuse himself from the SVB investigation announced just yesterday. She states that Mr. Powell’s actions allowed “big banks” like SVB to “load up” on risky assets, saying that Vice Chairman Barr needs complete independence.

Treasury Official Announces Coming DeFi Risk Report

In remarks yesterday, Assistant Secretary for Treasury’s Office of Terrorist Financing and Financial Crimes Elizabeth Rosenberg announced that her team will shortly be releasing a risk assessment on DeFi. She notes interest in any legitimate DeFi use cases, also saying that DeFi may nonetheless facilitate illicit finance.

FDIC Warns Bridge-Bank Counterparties

Reflecting the unusual nature of the two bridge banks the FDIC has established for SVB and Signature, the agency was compelled today to issue a warning that financial institutions are required to comply with their obligations to these FDIC-owned institutions to the extent previously required of the failed banks.

Daily031423.pdf…

13 03, 2023

DAILY031323

Eliza Allen2023-03-13T17:25:04-04:00March 13th, 2023|2- Daily Briefing|

Biden Promises Regulatory Revamp

In an effort to restore confidence in the banking system, President Biden announced that he will ask Congress and the banking regulators to strengthen regulations that were rolled back by the Trump administration.

Political Battle Lines Take Shape

In the wake of yesterday’s decision to protect all SVB depositors, Members of Congress are now positioning themselves for future action.

Biden Presses Stability in Wake of SVB, Signature Rescues

Reflecting ongoing uncertainties and political fallout, President Biden later this morning reiterated comments from earlier today noted in our prior alert.

Comment Deadline Set for GSE Capital Proposal

The Federal Register today includes the FHFA’s proposal to refine Fannie and Freddie’s capital construct.

Fed Tries to Get Ahead of SVB Storm

Even as Sen. Hagerty (R-TN) led calls to review Fed supervision, the Fed today announced that Vice Chair Barr will lead a review of SVB’s supervision and regulation.

Daily031323.pdf…

13 03, 2023

RESOLVE49

Eliza Allen2023-03-13T16:56:53-04:00March 13th, 2023|5- Client Report|

FedFin First Take: Failure Fall-out

As we noted last night, the President concurred with Treasury, the Fed, and FDIC in deciding that SVB’s Friday failure and imminent runs on Signature Bank and, most likely, others posed a systemic risk. This determination permits the FDIC to override all the efforts to end the moral hazard feared when uninsured depositors are fully protected in bank resolutions and came with a new Fed facility making it still easier for banks to obtain liquidity from the Federal Reserve. As we also observed, much effort is being made to assert that none of these backstops is a bailout, a conclusion sure to draw considerable discussion and dissent even from those who concur that the scale of potential run risk Monday morning could not otherwise have been averted. With this risk hopefully now resolved, much policy and political debate will begin about the Administration’s decision; why Silicon Valley Bank was so vulnerable; whether rules or enforcement are to blame for its failure, that of Signature Bank, and systemic fragility; and – even if rules are generally robust – which revisions to them are needed. The overall construct of reactions to this emergency and then the likelihood of substantive response beyond the Congressional statements and President’s commitment to new rules this morning will emerge in more specific form over the next few days if market strains continue to ease. FedFin will of course continue to apprise clients of key considerations.

RESOLVE49.pdf…

13 03, 2023

FedFin First Take: Failure Fall-out

Arezou Rafikian2023-03-15T16:50:33-04:00March 13th, 2023|The Vault|

As we noted last night, the President concurred with Treasury, the Fed, and FDIC in deciding that SVB’s Friday failure and imminent runs on Signature Bank and, most likely, others posed a systemic risk. This determination permits the FDIC to override all the efforts to end the moral hazard feared when uninsured depositors are fully protected in bank resolutions and came with a new Fed facility making it still easier for banks to obtain liquidity from the Federal Reserve. As we also observed, much effort is being made to assert that none of these backstops is a bailout, a conclusion sure to draw considerable discussion and dissent even from those who concur that the scale of potential run risk Monday morning could not otherwise have been averted. With this risk hopefully now resolved, much policy and political debate will begin about the Administration’s decision; why Silicon Valley Bank was so vulnerable;…

The full report is available to retainer clients. To find out how you can sign up for the service, click here and here.…

9 03, 2023

DAILY030923

Eliza Allen2023-03-09T16:52:09-05:00March 9th, 2023|2- Daily Briefing|

Barr Emphasizes Steep Barriers to Bank Crypto, Retail CBDC

In remarks today, FRB Vice Chair Barr reiterated that banks should take an extremely cautious approach when engaging with cryptoassets or counterparties and stressed the need to include stablecoins within the regulatory perimeter. For the first time, the Fed made it clear that, while it is open to DLT, smart-contract, and similar payment-system innovations, it is dubious that any will have near-term benefits and all require careful regulatory design.

Expected Battle Lines Form Over CFPB Future

As predicted, today’s HFSC Subcommittee hearing on the CFPB was a partisan and raucous session, with Republicans focusing most strongly on legal and constitutional issues around the Bureau’s funding and enforcement authority and Democrats defending both its legality and effectiveness. Much will come of this in terms of HFSC and floor votes, but we expect no statutory change in this Congress under this President.

Hill Sets Table for Bipartisan Crypto Action

Today’s Digital Assets Subcommittee hearing was considerably more conciliatory than the CFPB session earlier today, with Chairman Hill (R-AR) making clear in his opening statement that he is not launching a partisan attack against the SEC, the banking agencies, or the White House. He hopes instead to press bipartisan legislation, thanking former Chair Waters (D-CA) for her work on stablecoins and emphasizing the need not only for new law there, but also across the array of pending digital-asset questions.

Daily030923.pdf…

9 03, 2023

GSE-030923

Eliza Allen2023-03-09T15:28:01-05:00March 9th, 2023|4- GSE Activity Report|

Now What?

As detailed in our reports earlier this week on Powell’s appearance before Senate Banking and HFSC, much was said about the pending rewrite of big-bank capital standards. As we’ve noted, this matters a lot to the comparative advantage of GSEs, nonbank mortgage players, and banks large and small. As a result, we here go in depth on what Powell said – and mostly didn’t – about what’s next on these critical standards.

GSE-030923.pdf…

6 03, 2023

DAILY030623

Eliza Allen2023-03-06T16:54:30-05:00March 6th, 2023|2- Daily Briefing|

GOP Revs Up Fight Vs. Big-Bank Capital Hikes

Firing a fusillade ahead of capital rewrites expected late this month, Senate Banking Republicans late Friday sent FRB Chairman Powell a letter arguing strongly against capital increases and laying out a strong view that the agencies are required by law to tailor key standards.

BIS Project Finds Retail-CBDC Cross-Border Benefits

In a project boosting retail CBDC, the BIS Innovation Hub today announced the results of Project Icebreaker, a cross-border retail CBDC pilot between Sweden, Norway, and Israel.

GOP Will Deploy IGs To Demand Fed, CFPB, SEC Reform

In addition to a hearing that morning with Chairman Powell, the full HFSC will call federal banking agencies on the carpet Wednesday for “wasteful” spending and other governance issues.

Dems Beg Gensler Not to Scrap Scope 3 Climate Disclosures

Responding to intense GOP opposition to the SEC’s climate disclosure proposal, fifty Congressional Democrats led by Sen. Warren (D-MA) sent a letter to SEC Chairman Gensler today urging him not to scale the proposal back, especially its Scope 3 provisions.

Treasury Wants Fast NBFI, OEF, Crypto Standards

Treasury International Affairs Under-Secretary Jay Shambaugh today outlined U.S. priorities, emphasizing not only the importance of containing Russia and countering new threats, but also quickly advancing numerous global initiatives.

Hsu Pushes To Start The End Game

Acting Comptroller Hsu today reiterated his determination to act as quickly as possible on Basel’s end-game rules, noting the interagency statement last year that this would soon be done without providing …

14 02, 2023

DAILY021423

Eliza Allen2023-02-14T16:52:49-05:00February 14th, 2023|2- Daily Briefing|

What’s Next At The Post-Brainard Fed

Clients have asked us to advise on what may be next for the Fed if Vice Chair Brainard is indeed named as head of the White House NEC, which now seems certain. In our view, there will be no change to FOMC policy given unanimity on this question and the leadership not only of the vice chair, but also of the Fed chairman and FRB-NY president. However, there could be a significant shift in the likelihood of a U.S. CBDC. Ms. Brainard has been the most outspoken advocate of a CBDC (see Client Report CBDC13), but her successor as head of the Fed payment committee is likely to be either Gov. Waller or Bowman, each of whom is a strong CBDC skeptic.

Daily021423.pdf…