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☆ Failed bank execs see blame everywhere, except in the mirror
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Allison Morrow | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN —More than two months after the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank triggered a financial earthquake, three former executives spoke publicly for the first time in testimony before a Senate committee Tuesday. Here are the key takeaways from the Senate hearing:Everyone else messed upThe executives conducted a masterclass in deflecting blame for their banks’ failures. In his testimony, Becker said he was “truly sorry” for the bank’s collapse, blaming a “series of unprecedented events.”Greg Becker, former CEO of Silicon Valley Bank, left, testifies next to Scott Shay, former chairman and co-founder of Signature Bank, and Eric Howell, former president of Signature Bank, during a Senate hearing. “Rumors and misconceptions spread quickly online,” sparking the bank run, Becker told lawmakers. Spoiler alert: Becker didn’t commit to returning any money and Shay said he had no intention to do so.

☆ Former Silicon Valley Bank CEO: ‘I am truly sorry’
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( Allison Morrow | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

“I never envisioned myself or SVB being in this situation,” former CEO Greg Becker writes, adding that he is “truly sorry for how this has impacted SVB’s employees, clients, and shareholders.”Becker is scheduled to testify at 10 a.m. ET Tuesday alongside two former executives of Signature Bank, which collapsed two days after SVB. But SVB’s collapse rumbled across global financial markets and sparked a selloff that has gripped US regional banks for more than two months. In its autopsy of the bank’s collapse, the Fed, which was SVB’s primary regulator, blamed both the central bank’s supervisory shortcomings and SVB management’s missteps. “You have nobody to blame for the failure at your bank but yourself and your fellow executives,” Warren wrote in a letter to Becker in March.

☆ Silicon Valley's Hail Mary moment
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-07 | by ( Linette Lopez | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +14 min

Silicon Valley has entered the Hail Mary phase of its business cycle — a desertic part of a tech-industry downturn where desperation can turn into recklessness. Don't fear the robotsTo understand the Hail Mary moment, it's important to understand the actual capabilities of technology these tech titans are touting. Again, what Musk is describing is AI general intelligence — something much more advanced than the generative AI OpenAI is building on at the moment. During the pandemic when governments were handing out cash and people were stuck at home, the world bought everything Silicon Valley was selling. But those are exactly the types of workers getting laid off in Silicon Valley right now.

☆ US regional lenders eke out gains after brutal sell-off
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

May 5 (Reuters) - Shares of U.S. regional lenders rose in premarket trading on Friday following a brutal sell-off during the week that saw First Republic Bank collapse and peer PacWest Bancorp (PACW.O) explore strategic options. The KBW Regional Banking Index (.KRX) has plunged about 31% this year as the sector grapples with deepening investor concerns with billions in market value wiped in recent weeks. PacWest, whose shares have plummeted 86% this year, said late on Wednesday it was in talks with potential partners and investors as it weighs strategic options. Shares of the bank plunged to close down 33%. Reporting by Manya Saini in Bengaluru; additional reporting by Amruta Khandekar Editing by Vinay DwivediOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Cantor's Howard Lutnick says the banking crisis isn't over and the Fed is done hiking rates
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Alex Harring | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The Federal Reserve should be done hiking interest rates after considering the impacts of the bank crisis, said Howard Lutnick, chairman and CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald and BGC Partners. Lutnick said on CNBC's "Squawk Box" that the exodus of deposits from regional banks is the equivalent to a full percentage point in interest rate hikes from the Federal Reserve. "Of course they're done," Lutnick said of the central bank's rate hike campaign. Lutnick said the banking crisis is still a problem, even as regulators have worked to calm customers, and indirectly investors, in recent weeks. Commercial bank deposits have fallen about $894 billion since March 2022, according to seasonally adjusted data from Fed .

May 1 (Reuters) - Regulators seized First Republic Bank (FRC.N) and sold its assets to JPMorgan Chase & Co (JPM.N) on Monday, in a deal to resolve the largest U.S. bank failure since the 2008 financial crisis and draw a line under a lingering banking turmoil. Shares of JPMorgan rose 2% on Monday, while those of mid-tier banks fell and the KBW Regional Banking Index (.KRX) closed down 2.7%. [1/3] People walk past a First Republic Bank branch in San Francisco, California, U.S. April 28, 2023. "This is not the world financial crisis, this is not the savings and loan crisis. The failed bank's 84 offices in eight states will reopen as branches of JPMorgan Chase Bank from Monday, it added.

☆ Bitcoin's 72% rally to start 2023 helps push Michael Saylor's MicroStrategy to its first profitable quarter in over 2 years
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( Phil Rosen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Michael Saylor's MicroStrategy posted its first profit in nine quarters to start 2023. The largest holder of bitcoin added 7,500 tokens in the quarter as it rallied over 70%. MicroStrategy added 7,500 bitcoin tokens in the first quarter, bringing its total to 140,000 tokens. But with the token's rally this year, MicroStrategy reported an impairment loss of $18.9 million for the quarter, down from the prior quarter's $197.6 million impairment. And after tapping a tax benefit of $453.4 million, MicroStrategy posted net income of $461 million in the first quarter, reversing from a net loss of $249.7 million in the fourth quarter.

Shares of JPMorgan and some of the other the largest U.S. banks rose on Monday, while those of mid-tier banks fell. [1/3] People walk past a First Republic Bank branch in San Francisco, California, U.S. April 28, 2023. "This is not the world financial crisis, this is not the savings and loan crisis. JPMorgan also entered into a loss-share agreement with the FDIC on single family, residential and commercial loans it bought, but will not take First Republic Bank's corporate debt or preferred stock. The failed bank's 84 offices in eight states will reopen as branches of JPMorgan Chase Bank from Monday, it added.

First Republic was one of the major casualties of the banking crisis triggered in March, when depositors fled en masse from some U.S. lenders to institutions such as JPMorgan that they thought were safer. [1/2] People walk past a First Republic Bank branch in San Francisco, California, U.S. April 28, 2023. JPMorgan has assumed all of the bank's deposits, it said, and will repay $25 billion of the $30 billion big banks deposited with First Republic in March. JPMorgan said it expected to achieve a one-time, post-tax gain of about $2.6 billion after the deal. The failed bank's 84 offices in eight states will reopen as branches of JPMorgan Chase Bank from Monday, it added.

STEPPING UPA security guard stands outside a First Republic Bank branch in San Francisco, California, U.S. April 28, 2023. The FDIC estimated in a statement that the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) would be about $13 billion. JPMorgan has assumed all of the bank's deposits, it said, and will repay $25 billion of the $30 billion big banks deposited with First Republic in March. New York-based JPMorgan will take on $173 billion of loans, $30 billion of securities and $92 billion of deposits. "Our government invited us and others to step up, and we did," said Jamie Dimon, JPMorgan Chairman and CEO.

May 1 (Reuters) - JPMorgan Chase & Co (JPM.N) will buy most of First Republic Bank's (FRC.N) assets in a last-ditch rescue led by U.S. regulators, marking the third major U.S. institution to fail in two months. First Republic Bank shares tumbled 43.3% in premarket trading. The FDIC estimated in a statement that the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund would be about $13 billion. "Our government invited us and others to step up, and we did," said Jamie Dimon, Chairman and CEO of JPMorgan Chase. The failed bank's 84 offices in eight states will reopen as branches of JPMorgan Chase Bank from Monday, according to the JPMorgan statement.

☆ JP Morgan to buy First Republic's assets and assume deposits
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The banking giant will take $173 billion of loans and about $30 billion of securities of First Republic Bank including $92 billion of deposits, JPMorgan said in a statement. First Republic Bank shares tumbled 36% in premarket trading. The FDIC estimated in a statement that the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund would be about $13 billion. "Our government invited us and others to step up, and we did," said Jamie Dimon, Chairman and CEO of JPMorgan Chase. The failed bank's 84 offices in eight states will reopen as branches of JPMorgan Chase Bank from Monday, according to the JPMorgan statement.

NEW YORK, May 1 (Reuters) - The weekend rescue of troubled lender First Republic Bank (FRC.N) has done little to allay options traders' concerns about the overall health of U.S. regional banks. Traders who had bought upside calls on regional banks on Friday appeared to be exiting those positions as the regulator-engineered rescue of First Republic failed to catalyze a rally in the mid-cap bank sector. SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF shares were down 2% at $41.70 in afternoon trading. At the individual stock level, traders were focused on regional lender PacWest Bancorp (PACW.O) on Monday. With PacWest shares down 7%, put options, typically used for bearish bets, outnumbered call options, usually employed for bullish bets, 4-to-1, according to Trade Alert data.

☆ A Timeline of How the Banking Crisis Has Unfolded
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Madeleine Ngo | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +9 min

March 9Gregory Becker, the chief executive of Silicon Valley Bank, urged venture capital firms to remain calm on a conference call. March 10In the biggest bank failure since the 2008 financial crisis, Silicon Valley Bank collapsed after a run on deposits . Regional bank stocks plunged after the unexpected seizure of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank , with shares of First Republic tumbling 60 percent. The Treasury secretary believed the actions by the private sector would help underscore confidence in the stability of the banking system. April 28The Fed released a report faulting itself for failing to “take forceful enough action” ahead of Silicon Valley Bank’s collapse.

☆ Bitcoin pulls back to start May as First Republic Bank saga comes to an end
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Tanaya Macheel | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Cryptocurrencies took a dip on Monday to start the week and new month as investors bet the takeover of First Republic Bank could put an end to the financial crisis, which has been the biggest driver of this year's bitcoin rally. Bitcoin fell about 4.2% to 28,137.76 to start the week and new month, according to Coin Metrics. Last week, the price of bitcoin rallied in the final week of April as troubles at the bank unfolded. "It's unclear whether the banking crisis narrative can continue to be a boon for bitcoin," said Alex Thorn, head of firmwide research at Galaxy. "Bitcoin and ether started 2023 inorganically cheap, allowing for plenty of room to move higher off a low-base effect," Thorn said.

☆ Key Fed meeting and jobs data are ahead
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-30 | by ( Krystal Hur | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

In the spotlight are the Federal Reserve’s May meeting and the April jobs report. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell will likely face questions about credit conditions, in addition to the central bank’s inflation strategy. What’s at stake with the April jobs report: Economists expect the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ April jobs print to show slower employment growth last month and a rising unemployment rate. Wednesday: Federal Reserve interest rate decision, Chairman Jerome Powell’s press conference and April ADP private payroll report. Friday: April jobs report and March consumer credit.

☆ Signature Bank failed because of ‘poor management,’ FDIC report finds
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( Elisabeth Buchwald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —The collapse of Signature Bank was due to “poor management,” according to a report from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation released Friday. Bank management “did not always heed FDIC examiner concerns, and was not always responsive or timely in addressing FDIC supervisory recommendations,” the report said. Contagion effects from Silicon Valley Bank’s failure and Silvergate Bank’s self-liquidation, which occurred just days before Signature Bank was forced to close, helped ignite the run on deposits, the FDIC report stated. In particular, bank management did not fully understand the risks associated with accepting crypto deposits, which comprised more than 20% of its total deposits, the FDIC report said. The FDIC led the investigation into Signature Bank, a New York state-charted bank, since it was the primary regulator.

☆ First Republic could make failure safe again
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( John Foley | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

NEW YORK, April 27 (Reuters Breakingviews) - When Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank failed in March, U.S. authorities bailed out their depositors regardless of size. The slower destruction at First Republic Bank (FRC.N) could provide an opportunity to reverse the regrettable precedent. And while it’s never good when a business fails, there’s a potential benefit to letting First Republic go. First Republic had $233 billion of assets at the end of March, and $104 billion of deposits compared with $176 billion at the end of December. Silicon Valley Bank, owned by SVB Financial, was taken into receivership on March 10, while Signature Bank was closed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp on March 12.

☆ First Republic handed out billions in ultra-low-rate mortgages to the wealthy. It backfired horribly.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-25 | by ( Matt Turner | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The bank won wealthy clients with the offer of jumbo mortgage loans that required no principal payments for a decade. First Republic first moved into focus back in the March banking crisis that claimed Silicon Valley Bank, Signature Bank, and Silvergate. Like SVB and Signature, a large percentage of First Republic deposits were not insured by the FDIC, making it especially susceptible to deposit flight. Wealthy clients can easily move their deposits away from First Republic while keeping their mortgage with the firm, which creates a liquidity challenge. First Republic is now backtracking from this strategy, saying it will focus on writing loans that are guaranteed by Fannie and Freddie.

☆ Wall Street aces its real-life stress test
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( John Foley | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

One flaw in this plan is that the Federal Reserve, which designs the stress test, has tended to assume that when bad times come, interest rates would fall, not rise. Because their clients also fear sudden shifts in interest rates, they call on fixed-income securities desks to help offlay the risk. One clear outcome of higher interest rates is that banks are lending less, and more carefully. Reuters Graphics Reuters GraphicsFollow @johnsfoley on TwitterCONTEXT NEWSLarge U.S. banks reported their first-quarter earnings between April 14 and April 19. Both said that trading revenue had declined from first quarter 2022, but it was substantially higher than the last three months of the year.

☆ Coinbase secures Bermuda license, and EU approves framework for crypto regulation: CNBC Crypto World
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Jordan Smith | Talia Kaplan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailCoinbase secures Bermuda license, and EU approves framework for crypto regulation: CNBC Crypto WorldCNBC Crypto World features the latest news and daily trading updates from the digital currency markets and provides viewers with a look at what's ahead with high-profile interviews, explainers, and unique stories from the ever-changing crypto industry. On today's show, Circle's Chief Strategy Officer Dante Disparte explains how stablecoins could replace collapsed banks like Silvergate and Signature.

☆ US prosecutors seek a 7-year sentence and $740 million in forfeiture for an ex-NFL investor in crypto scam case
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Zinya Salfiti | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

US prosecutors are seeking a seven-year jail sentence for an ex-NFL investor for his involvement in crypto-related bank fraud. Reginald Fowler, who owned 3% of the Minnesota Vikings, is on trial for helping crypto firms side-step money laundering rules. Now, along with the jail sentence, prosecutors are demanding Fowler give up $740 million, according to a Monday court document. Fowler allegedly opened Global Trading Solutions, a firm that worked with Crypto Capital that exchanged cash and crypto. Banks like Silvergate and Signature knowingly took exposure to the cryptocurrency industry; the banks Fowler lied to were also exposed to the volatility of the industry but were unaware of that fact," the court document said.

☆ Bitcoin and ether fall as investors weigh persistent inflation and rising interest rates
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Tanaya Macheel | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Bitcoin has been closely correlated with stock indexes, in particular the Nasdaq, which rose on Wednesday after the U.S. Federal Reserve hiked interest rates by 0.75 percentage point. The price of bitcoin was last lower by about 3% and trading at $29,202.54, while ether fell 5% to $1,977.28. Bitcoin slid toward $29,000 on Wednesday as traders mulled over the likelihood that Federal Reserve rate cuts may be further away than they thought. Meanwhile in the U.S., Atlanta Federal Reserve President Raphael Bostic said Tuesday that he anticipates one more 25 basis point interest rate increase and then a hold "for quite some time." "It is hard to trust any crypto rally with the state of market liquidity, so a sharp drop towards the downside is hardly a surprise."

REUTERS/Dado RuvicLONDON, April 19 (Reuters) - Crypto firms have been left scrambling to find banking partners after the collapse of three crypto-friendly lenders in the U.S. last month, creating a risk their business will become concentrated in smaller financial institutions. Mainstream banks have become increasingly wary of crypto clients following a series of high-profile collapses, including the bankruptcy of major exchange FTX in November last year, and a lack of regulation. "Crypto and Web3 start-ups are telling us they simply cannot get a business bank account," said Marcus Foster, head of crypto policy at Coadec, a body representing UK start-ups. A spokesperson for ING said the bank does not "target or focus actively on crypto firms" so its exposure is "very limited." But for smaller crypto start-ups, securing a banking partner could be more difficult, said Ricardo Mico, the U.S. CEO of Banxa (BNXA.V), a payment and compliance infrastructure provider for crypto.

☆ Western Alliance soars 20% after it says deposits stabilized a month after bank turmoil rocked markets
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Morgan Chittum | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Western Alliance stock surged as much as 20% on Wednesday. The regional lender indicated that its deposit levels have stabilized since last month's banking turmoil. "While we experienced elevated net deposit outflows immediately following the closure of other banks, deposit balances quickly stabilized," Western Alliance CEO Kenneth Vecchione said in a statement. Panic rippled through financial markets throughout the month, sending shares of regional banks plunging before the sector stabilized after interventions from government authorities and larger banks. Western Alliance shares are still down 33% year-to-date after the latest rally.

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