Residential mortgage-backed securities offerings prior to 2008 gave rise to an abundance of litigation, some of which continues to this day. There may be reason to anticipate an increase in commercial mortgage-backed...more
The global market for credit is estimated to be more than $200 trillion, approximately three times larger in aggregate than the global equity market. It consists of bank loans, sovereign and sub-sovereign debt, corporate...more
The years since the 2007–2008 financial crisis have been marked with milestone settlements of claims against the major mortgage “aggregators” (sometimes also known as “investors” in the mortgage purchasing context), who then...more
It’s been a week or so, and we’re running out of ways to say that this is bad. But it certainly is. Your bear market stats for the day: the biggest daily drop by percentage for both the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial...more
Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Jay Clayton issued a public statement October 30, 2019, seeking market input on the asset-level disclosure requirements for SEC-registered residential mortgage-backed securities...more
A drone attack on Saudi Aramco oilfields this weekend affected 5% of global production and sent “energy prices substantially higher” late Sunday and early today. Analysts don’t anticipate a “severe shock to energy markets and...more
The White House is reportedly extending the temporary license for some US businesses to work with Huawei, a move that would likely help smooth the way for trade negotiators between the US and China to see their way back to...more
Apple is in “advanced talks” to snap up Intel’s smartphone-modem chip business, a portfolio “of patents and staff valued at $1 billion or more.” The deal, should it close, would go far in prepping Apple for the arrival of...more
Elon Musk and the SEC have reached an agreement to revise their earlier agreement to settle the latest round of issues caused by Musk’s Twitter habit. Under its terms, a Tesla securities attorney must now “preapprove any of...more
After a brutal Tuesday, the White House tried to take advantage of yesterday’s market day off to run some damage control “and ease concerns that [the] trade truce with China was already floundering.” I suspect we’ll find out...more
As widely expected, the Fed held rates steady when it wrapped its Open Market Committee meeting yesterday afternoon and deemed the economy “in good health,” laying the groundwork for another rate increase next month....more
Less than a day after the Journal reported that CBS and the Redstones are nearing a deal to resolve their many differences, we’ve learned that CBS chief Les Moonves—facing an investigation into alleged sexual harassment...more
Walmart’s broader foray into the grocery biz—letting customers order online and pick up in person and expanding home delivery—is paying dividends for the retailer and helping push its revenue up 3.8% from this period a year...more
On Wednesday, Wells Fargo revealed that it reached a settlement with the DOJ after months of negotiating that will see the bank pay $2.09 billion to resolve allegations over its sales of toxic mortgage-backed securities in...more
U.S. Financial Industry Developments - ISDA, AFME, ICMA, SIFMA and SIFMA AMG Publish Global Benchmark Report - The International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA), the Association of Financial Markets in Europe...more
Milwaukee-based Harley-Davidson announced on Monday that it will shift some of its motorcycle production overseas “to avoid retaliatory tariffs imposed by the European Union” in response to the White House’s trade moves....more
U.S. Financial Industry Developments - Credit Agreements Will Require Important Updates If a Proposed New Delaware Law Is Passed - The Delaware legislature is currently contemplating an amendment to the Delaware Limited...more
European Financial Industry Developments - BCBS Publishes its Work Program for 2018 and 2019 - On June 5, 2018, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision ("BCBS") published details of its work program for 2018 and...more
A day of massive lows (opening bell) and impressive rallies (with the dow up 230 by the end of the day) marked a wild Wednesday on Wall Street....more
Markets proved that last Friday’s 600-point Dow drop wasn’t an isolated incident, as all major US indices were down nearly 4% (at least) in a nasty Monday of trading....more
A look at Amazon’s newest concept—Amazon Go—a convenience store that opens in Seattle today complete with “shelves of food” found at other stores (including Whole Foods) but with nary a cashier in sight....more
The Dow closed above 26k yesterday for the first time on what some are dubbing the FOMO rally or the “melt-up” market....more
Deutsche Borse CEO Carsten Kengeter announced yesterday that he’ll step down in the wake of insider-trading allegations related to the exchange’s now-defunct merger with the London Stock Exchange Group....more
American Express Chair and CEO Kenneth Chenault announced that he’s stepping down next year after 16 years at the helm of AmEx. He’ll be succeeded by Vice Chair Stephen Squeri....more
Despite a stronger global economic outlook than we’ve seen in years, the world’s central bankers appear loath to let go of stimulus measures while lower-than-expected inflation bedevils them....more