Regulatory Roundup: ACTION EXPECTED SOON

SECURITIES UNDERWRITING: The Fed is expected to more than double - to 25% - the amount of revenue a banking company affiliate may earn underwriting commercial securities. Published Aug. 5. Comments were due Sept. 30.

FOREIGN BANKS: By yearend the Fed is expected to propose a major overhaul of the rules governing foreign banks. The changes are expected to eliminate scores of duplicative filing requirements and make it easier for foreign banks to expand their operations here.

RECOURSE: A proposal that would reduce the amount of risk-based capital that banks must hold against some assets sold with recourse is still pending at the agencies. Under the plan, regulators also could require banks to hold more capital against other assets, such as letters of credit. This plan is not directly related to proposed call report changes. An advance notice of proposed rulemaking was issued for comment in May 1994. Comments were due in July 1994.

IMPORTANT, NOT IMMINENT

DATA REPORTING: More than a year and a half after it was proposed, a plan to let banks voluntarily collect data on the race and sex of small- business owners remains pending before the Fed. Bankers are generally critical, claiming the data would be unreliable. But community activists are hoping the Fed will adopt the regulation, which would give the first comprehensive look at who gets small-business loans. Some observers believe the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency will press the Fed to act now that President Clinton has won reelection. Published April 26, 1995; comments were due June 27, 1995.