Aleksandrs Rozens

A Federal Reserve decision that will let many banks pay dividends again is another sign that the equity markets have returned to health, and it likely will stoke investor demand for financials, according to Mary Ann Deignan, head of equity capital markets in the Americas for UBS.

Even after news of his firm's deal with Tri-Artisan started filtering through the financial markets in early January, John Sorte, Morgan Joseph's chief executive, was still getting calls from senior executives at retail brokerages and asset managers to "see if it makes sense to do something with us."

Over the next five years, corporate America will be renewing close to $3 trillion of loan facilities — instruments that some dealmakers call the heart and soul of a company's balance sheet.

BTIG, which opened a trading floor for 200 professionals last month, plans to expand further in its specialty areas, but has no plans to expand into traditional investment banking.

RBS Securities Inc., the investment banking and brokerage unit of Royal Bank of Scotland, is looking to add trading and sales professionals and strategists specializing in Latin American markets, according to senior fixed-income officials.

KeyBanc Capital Markets' plans for the new year include hiring a wide range of dealmakers as part of an ongoing effort to capture more middle-market clients.

Bank of America Corp., Citigroup Inc. and Morgan Stanley could be downgraded next year, according to a report published Monday by Nomura Securities International Inc. It warned that downgrades could hurt their ability to operate in the commercial paper and repurchase markets.

Private equity has lost its taste for U.S. banks because of the stringent rules imposed by regulators, says Hamilton James.

Foreclosure-related problems could cost a quartet of U.S. banks $26 billion, according to a report published by analysts at Goldman Sachs.

Sandler O'Neill and Partners said on Thursday that Kelso and Carlyle Group will invest in the 22-year old investment banking firm which caters to U.S. banks and thrifts.

Felix Rohatyn, who is credited with helping to save New York City from financial ruin in the the 1970s, says that episode contains lessons that can be applied to today's budget crisis.

Evercore Partners' deal to buy a 50% stake in the boutique bank G5 Advisors last week is just one example of how Wall Street dealmakers are scrambling to get a foothold in Brazil, whose rapidly growing economy promises to be an active source of mergers and acquisitions.

Moody's on Tuesday affirmed the long-term and short-term ratings of Bank of America, Citigroup, and Wells Fargo. But, the rating agency said it changed its outlook on the trio to negative from stable after the recent passage of landmark legislation in Washington, D.C.

Jefferies & Co. said on Wednesday it hired Michael Anderson as a managing director in its global equity capital markets group, responsible for coverage of financial institutions.

Ken Posner, best known for his work as a Morgan Stanley analyst who tracked consumer finance companies as well as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, has teamed up with a group of banking professionals to start a firm that will invest in financial institutions.

Lynn Tilton, the founder and chief executive of the private-equity firm, Patriach Partners, was eager to talk about an undertaking that will probably constrain her sleep time even further: buying or starting a bank that would lend to midmarket companies.

When CIT filed for bankruptcy it turned to a different type of debtor-in-possession loan structure, one that could have ramifications for the broader U.S. economy.

Legendary Wall Street dealmaker and Lazard CEO Bruce Wasserstein died on Wednesday, a spokesperson for Lazard confirmed with Investment Dealers' Digest. He was 61.

Less than a year after Wall Street and all things finance served as a populist pinata for both major political parties in the presidential race, some Wall Street pros are braving a career in politics.

With fee income off in many of its business lines, Wall Street may have a new appreciation for the potential of health care banking.