Bonds

Some say the agencies are exacting too high a price to buy loans from the cash-strapped lenders; some small banks hustled in dealing with the Paycheck Protection Program, others are accused of a hustle.

The Federal Reserve committed Monday to conducting more asset purchases of Treasury securities and mortgage-backed securities and announced $300 billion in new financing for credit facilities.

The Federal Reserve committed Monday to conducting more asset purchases of Treasury securities and mortgage-backed securities and announced $300 billion in new financing for credit facilities.

Under the leadership of Barbara Mariniello, Barclays now ranks among the largest underwriters for corporate bonds in the Americas.

The senior central bank official signaled interest in deploying the countercyclical capital tool for the first time as corporate bond risks build.

The agency's semiannual report on risks in the industry focused heavily on the high volume of commercial loans as well as banks' exposure to nonfinancial corporate debt, which is near a record share of GDP.

CUNA economist Mike Schenk is shooting down a recent gloom-and-doom theory from former Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan that a U.S. bond market bubble could burst as inflation rises and the nation nears full employment.

In the coming year, bankers in Puerto Rico will need to keep an eye on how steep cuts in government spending will affect the island’s consumers, says José Rafael Fernández, CEO of OFG Bancorp.

Authorities are said to be investigating whether market makers — including three U.S. banks — suppressed prices to get higher yields on the bonds.

Restricting banking organizations’ lines of business would hurt their ability to compete in a constantly evolving financial system and to serve as sources of strength.