Now that the bill on financial reform is ready, the general consensus appears to be that banks have evaded the most onerous measures. I think that view is right, as far as it goes, but the ultimate cost of regulation could still significantly exceed current estimates. Here's why.
A victory lap before the race is over?
So confident were the largest banks that the impact of the final reform package would be contained, that they recently began taunting lawmakers. Citigroup
While the final bill has been watered down, regulators will still have enormous discretion in deciding how to implement the new laws. To wit: How much and what kind of capital must banks hold? What falls under proprietary trading? These and other questions must be answered by regulators, who are under pressure to prove they can get tough with the banks.
Regulatory uncertainty remains: lawmakers out, regulators in
In sum, regulatory uncertainty persists until the details are hammered out -- albeit within a framework that is now better defined. The bank with the largest exposure to the overhaul is Goldman Sachs
Are they cheap enough?
All the same, the valuations of these five banks (including Bank of America
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