The Federal Reserve announced on Friday that it would not extend an important rule accommodation put in place last spring that helped banks continue to lend to small and medium-size businesses as the economic effects of the pandemic took hold. … READ MORE >
Financial services
Short-term rates and economic expansion at risk without Fed’s SLR extension
With the economic recovery still in its early stages, an important component of the Federal Reserve’s response to the economic collapse last spring is in danger of expiring. … READ MORE >
With embedded finance, Walmart takes aim at consumer financial services
In January, Walmart announced its fintech startup with Ribbit Capital, a fintech-focused venture capital firm. Through this partnership, Walmart plans to build affordable digital financial products for its more than 230 million customers who visit its 10,800 locations. … READ MORE >
Low interest rates offer private equity firms a rare opportunity to invest
As the Federal Reserve continues to keep interest rates at historically low levels, private equity firms in the middle market have an opportunity to take advantage of those low rates and make capital investments that will pay off in the future. … READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: ESG comes to financial services
As environmental, social and governance practices have gained broader acceptance, financial services companies have started to fall under scrutiny when it comes to ESG. … READ MORE >
Private equity and venture capital stay resilient in the EU and UK
After a year of upheaval, private equity and venture capital dealmaking ended last year on a strong note in the European Union and the U.K., and that momentum is poised to continue. … READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: How stablecoins are helping lay the groundwork for digital currencies
As stablecoins gain a toehold in the marketplace, they are helping pave the way for traditional currencies, like the U.S. dollar, to become digital assets. … READ MORE >
How SPACs and direct listings are reshaping the capital markets
The volume and dollar value of public listings went on a tear last year as private companies took advantage of a bullish stock market to raise cash at attractive valuations. … READ MORE >
Comptroller of the Currency puts the fair access rule on hold
Under the rule, banks with assets in excess of $100 billion would have been required to do business in industries that are increasingly becoming unpopular given shifting societal values – like oil producers and manufacturers of firearms. … READ MORE >
How regulatory oversight may change at five agencies under Biden
With President Joe Biden’s cabinet taking shape, regulated entities in the financial services industry like banks, specialty lenders and capital markets firms are starting to get a better picture of what changes might be in store. … READ MORE >