Ready for another rollercoaster ride? Asian markets suggest it could be a long Monday on Wall Street – WSJ
The latest from the ongoing battle between the SEC and billionaire investor Steven A Cohen appears to be a deal that would ban Cohen from managing money for 2 years (well short of the lifetime ban regulators initially sought for his alleged failure to stamp out insider trading at his firm, SAC Capital) – NYTimes and Bloomberg and Law360
With concerns about the Fed’s ongoing ability to address asset bubbles and influence all financial firms (and not just banks) at the fore, the Fed’s reportedly looking to its legal power to adjust margin requirements—“rules limiting what portion of stocks or bonds can be purchased through borrowing”—for the first time in decades – WSJ
Fair Game doesn’t mince words when tackling the big 3 rating agencies—S&P, Moody’s, and Fitch—“eight years after these companies were found to have put profits ahead of principle when they assigned high grades to low-quality debt securities.” The SEC’s recent year-end report on RAs found behavior strikingly similar to that which marked 2008. So, you know, buckle up – NYTimes
China’s currency moves of late combined with currently strong currencies in South Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan could lead to a “wave of currency devaluations” throughout much of Asia, raising real concerns about a currency war that “could result in lower growth and add to the already substantial concerns about the global economy this year and next” – NYTimes
Breakingviews raises a few concerns about the buzzed-about Saudi Aramco IPO, including how investors might split revenue with the Saudi government – NYTimes [and WSJ, for more dangers]
Activist investors aren’t the only ones expressing concerns about Yahoo’s future. Its employees are doing so too, and many are letting their feet to the talking – NYTimes
Sooooo . . . On a normal weekend in Hollywood (does that exist?), Sean Penn showing up with Madonna a quarter century after their divorce would be the story. But Spicoli’s had a few other things going on – NYTimes