Stress tests

In a year where most of the 18 institutions taking the second round of the Federal Reserve's stress tests showed improvements over last year, JPMorgan Chase and Capital One were both forced to adjust their capital plans in order to meet the central bank's minimum thresholds.

Former Barclays CEO John Varley was accused of trying to obtain funds to avoid a government bailout; borrowing to pay for weddings surged last year.

A new set of tougher scenarios did little to keep large banks from passing the most recent stress tests mandated by the Dodd-Frank Act.

The bank believes its U.S. unit will pass this year’s stress test but Fed restrictions will stay; COO is the second member of CEO’s inner circle to leave.

Banks shouldn’t have trouble this year, but the rules may change next year; U.S. authorities are probing possible AML compliance violations at the German bank.

Stress tests have come a long way since first unveiled to shore up confidence in banks. But some critics fear that proposals to make the system more efficient would compromise its safety.

Options include legislation to study the risk of leveraged loans, more aggressive action by the Financial Stability Oversight Council and additional capital buffers. Policymakers may also choose to do nothing.

This is the first year that only the largest and most complex banks will be included after the Federal Reserve decided to let smaller firms wait until next year to resume testing.

Stress tests, capital buffers and liquidity levels are best ways to make financial system safe; HSBC plans to layoff “several hundred” from investment bank.

The pace is torrid now, but it could slow if bank stock prices keep rising and one prominent lawmaker’s proposal to restrict share repurchases gains traction.