#Discover

22 02, 2024

DAILY022224

2024-02-22T17:00:09-05:00February 22nd, 2024|2- Daily Briefing|

CapOne Deal Draws GOP Fire

Late yesterday, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) joined Democrats in strongly opposing the CapOne/Discover merger, doing so not only via a short statement, but also a letter to Assistant AG Kanter.

CFPB Buttresses Calls to Block CapOne Deal

Adding still more heat to the fire it built Friday on credit-card industry practices, the CFPB today reported that the average APR margin for credit-cards has reached an all-time high.  APR margins were also found also to account for about half of the absolute card rate, which rose from 12.9 percent in 2013 to 22.8 percent in 2023.

Hsu Presses Cross-Border Cryptoasset-Platform Regulation

Speaking before the FSB’s Crypto Working Group today, Acting Comptroller Hsu made it clear that multi-function cryptoasset intermediaries require a home/host-country regulatory construct akin to that adopted in the U.S. and around the world after BCCI’s money-laundering scandal and failure in 1991.

Daily022224.pdf

21 02, 2024

DAILY022124

2024-02-21T17:03:29-05:00February 21st, 2024|2- Daily Briefing|

Hsu Identifies Near-Term Microprudential Options to Curtail Systemic Risk via Bank Inter-Connections

Acting Comptroller Hsu warned that the risks of blurred lines between commerce and banking pose financial-stability risks, especially when it comes to payment systems and private equity.

Waters Adds to Democratic CapOne/Discover Merger Opposition

Building on Democratic opposition, HFSC Ranking Member Waters (D-CA) made it clear that she vigorously opposes Capital One’s acquisition of Discover, arguing that it not only validates her view that tough new capital rules are essential, but also the significant risks large regional banks continue to pose.

Daily022124.pdf

20 02, 2024

DAILY022024

2024-02-20T17:06:56-05:00February 20th, 2024|2- Daily Briefing|

Waters Fails to Muster Meaningful Democratic Capital-Proposal Protest

Late Friday, HFSC Ranking Member Waters (D-CA) released another letter from Democrats protecting the pending capital proposals.

Fed Study: CBDC Impact on Dollar Dominance, Payment System Depends on Many Decisions

A new Fed staff study finds that a U.S. CBDC would have only a marginal impact on the dollar’s role as the reserve currency and within the payment system, although this conclusion depends on a raft of decisions now being made about other CBDCs and the cross-border payment system.

Sanders Targets BlackRock’s Market Power

We will shortly provide clients with an update on Congressional reaction to the C1/Discover merger earlier today, but here draw client attention to a new letter from Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), sure also to be among the credit-card consolidation’s fiercest critics.

Brown Presses Powell for Enforceable Ethics Standards

Senate Banking Chair Brown today renewed his campaign against Fed conflict-of-interest policies, sending another letter to Chair Powell arguing that the Fed’s recent internal-investment and ethics standards are unenforceable.

Initial Response to C1/Discover Merger Starts M&A Debate

With Congress in recess, political response to the Capital One/Discover merger has been muted in terms of sparse comments, but fiery when it comes to Sen. Warren (D-MA).

Daily022024.pdf

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