Category Archives: Banking industry

John Helmer: The Collapse of Russian Real Estate Investment – Will Children and Chinese Tourists Save the Mall?

Why the plunge in Russian commercial real estate prices reveals the large role of money laundering.

The Politically Expedient German Scheme for Eurozone Sovereign Debt Bail-Ins

Yet another half-baked European bail-in plan.

Dumb Money Watch: ZIRP-Starved Insurers Beefing Up in Lending as Banks Exit the Pool

Insurers are going long risk at one of the worst possible junctures.

Italian Bank Failures Could Disintegrate the EU

How bad is the Italian banking mess?

Wolf Richter: US Homeownership at Lowest Level in Over 50 Years

Despite large subsidies to housing and mortgage finance. homeownership has plunged to 1960s levels.

Do “Unconventional” Monetary Policies Work?

A skeptical look at unconventional monetary policies: quantitative easing, ZIRP, and negative interest rates.

EU Gives UK a Brexit Poke in the Eye by Appointing Michel Barnier, Nemesis of the City, as Key Negotiator

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker achieved a significant win by appointing Michel Barnier as a lead Brexit negotiator.

Italy Bank Crisis Looming With Rush to Rescue #3 Bank, Monte dei Paschi

Frantic rescue efforts for Monte dei Paschi are underway but the current plans don’t look very viable.

Harry Markopolos Scores Again: State Street Settles for $382 Million on Foreign Exchange Fraud

Harry Markopolos exposed cheating of pension funds and mutual funds in foreign exchange trades,, with State Street the latest settlement.

How Much Do Shady Financial Practices Cost You, Exactly?

The average U.S. household loses over $100,000 to destructives activities of bankers and financiers

How the ECB is Officially Above the Law

If you think the US has trouble holding the Fed to account, we are in light years better shape than Eurozone citizens are with the ECB.

Study: Top Bank Execs Saw the Crisis Coming and Sold Their Company’s Shares

So much for the “whcouddanode” theory of the crisis.

Draghi Supports Bailout of Italy’s Banks

Draghi backs an Italian bank rescue, but that does not settle the issue.

Did the European Court of Justice Just Rescue Italy’s Banks? (Updated)

The European Court of Justice just issued a ruling that may allow Italy to rescue its banks without imposing bail-ins.

COBOL and Legacy Code as a Systemic Risk

More on why legacy code at major banks is a ticking time bomb.