">Forum Views () 
">Forum Replies ()  
 
 
Read more with google mobile :
US seeks powers to seize non-bank financial firms  
 
 
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
Yahoo! Search
Search:
Sign InNew User? Sign Up
News Home -
Help
  
 
  
Navigation
Primary Navigation
 
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Secondary Navigation
 
 
Search
 
 
Search:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
US seeks powers to seize non-bank financial firms
 
 
 
 
 
 
 AFP - Wednesday, March 25
WASHINGTON (AFP) - - US Treasury and Federal Reserve chiefs asked Congress Tuesday for unprecedented powers to seize financial firms outside the banking system if needed to maintain economic stability.
ADVERTISEMENT
 
 
 
 
  
The government currently has the authority to take over only banks, and the new requested powers could enable authorities to take control of large insurers, investment firms and hedge funds during a financial turmoil.
Testifying at a congressional hearing, Fed chairman Ben Bernanke and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said the new powers could be part of new rules to tighten regulation of the financial system following the havoc caused by a US home mortgage meltdown that triggered global turmoil.
They cited the example of the unprecedented government multibillion-dollar bailout of US insurance giant American International Group (AIG) in September last year in what they said was a desperate bid to prevent global catastrophe.
"AIG highlights the urgent need for new resolution procedures for systemically important nonbank financial firms," Bernanke told the House of Representatives financial services committee.
"If a federal agency had had such tools on September 16, they could have been used to put AIG into conservatorship or receivership, unwind it slowly, protect policyholders, and impose haircuts (reductions) on creditors and counterparties as appropriate," he said.
"That outcome would have been far preferable to the situation we find ourselves in now," he said apparently referring partly to public outrage over AIG's payment of 165 million dollars in executive bonuses after the company received more than 170 billion dollars in a government rescue.
The bonuses were paid to executives in the unit responsible for bringing the company to the brink of collapse.
The AIG situation also highlighted the need for "strong, effective consolidated supervision of all systemically important financial firms," Bernanke said.
Geithner emphasized that "the US government does not have the legal means today to manage the orderly restructuring of a large, complex, non-bank financial institution that poses a threat to the stability of our financial system."
He wanted "all institutions and markets that could pose systemic risk" to be subject to strong oversight, including controls on risk-taking.
Geithner echoed Bernanke's call for a new resolution authority so that the federal government had the tools it needs to unwind non-bank financial institutions if required.
Reacting to their testimony, President Barack Obama said he hoped to convince his Democratic party-controlled Congress to quickly hand him powers to close collapsed finance firms outside the banking sector that pose a systemic economic risk.
"I hope it doesn't take too long to convince Congress," he said when asked about the request for additional powers by the finance chiefs.
"That will be just one phase of a broader regulatory framework that we are going to have to put in place to prevent these kinds of crises happening again," Obama said.
Republican lawmakers expressed caution over the financial reform proposal.
"We do need to have some control over it. But I would hope we could all work together on making sure that that is done and done correctly at some point in the relatively near future," said Delaware lawmaker Michael Castle.
The Obama administration plans to send legislation proposing the new financial rules to Capitol Hill this week, the Washington Post said Tuesday, citing an administration document.
Giving the government authority over a broader range of companies would mark a significant shift from the existing model of financial regulation.
Current regulation relies on independent agencies that are shielded from the political process, the Post noted.
The Treasury secretary, a member of the president's cabinet, would exercise the new financial regulatory powers in consultation with the White House, the Federal Reserve and other regulators, according to the document cited by the newspaper.
The US move comes ahead of a Group of 20 summit of developed and developing nations in London on April 2 to be attended by Obama, who wants to discuss a global strategy to improve financial rules aimed at fueling economic recovery.
 
 
 
Email Story
IM Story
Printable View
Blog This
 
 
   
Recommend this article
Average (3 votes)
Sign in to recommend this article »
Most Recommended Stories »
   
 
 
 
Most Popular – Top Stories
 
 
 
 
 
 Viewed
 
 
 
 
Red meat raises death risk, white meat lowers it
 
 
AIG to give back 50 mln in bonuses: officials
 
 
Airlines face losses of $4.7 billion
 
 
AIG to give back $50 mln in bonus cash
 
 
Deutsche Bank might have to cut jobs: report
 
 
View Complete List »
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Search:
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy 
- Terms of Service 
- Community 
- Intellectual Property Rights Policy 
- Help
        
    
 
   
 
Other News on Wednesday, 25 March 2009 Assessment finds gaps in Darfur aid delivery: UN
| International
|  
Turkey says not yet decided on next NATO chief
| International
|  
UN envoy says Madagascar risks further conflict
| International
|  
Czech government loses confidence vote
| International
|  
BMW art cars by Warhol, others in New York exhibit
| Entertainment
|  
George Lopez to launch TBS talk show in November
| Entertainment
|  
Japanese designer Kenzo trades art for new life
| Entertainment
|  
NATO can't measure Afghan war performance: general
| International
|  
Sudan's President Bashir to visit Egypt  
Violence-plagued Mexico sees hope in U.S. border plan
| International
|  
U.S.'s Iran offer can aid Mideast security  
U.S. changes stance on reporters held by North Korea
| International
|  
Israel's Labor votes to join Netanyahu government  
U.S.'s Iran offer can aid Mideast security: ElBaradei
| International
|  
Obama to tout economic progress at press grilling  
Irish firm and officers charged with sales to Iran  
US seeks powers to seize non-bank financial firms  
German unions find new allies in crisis
| International
|  
Netanyahu enlists Labour Party into Israeli coalition  
Economic downturn weighs on Filipino migrant laborers
| International
|  
IMF reforms lending to ease credit amid crisis  
Assessment finds gaps in Darfur aid delivery: U.N.
| International
|  
Sources: Obama to roll out Afghanistan plan Friday  
Deutsche Bank might have to cut jobs: report  
North Korea warns against U.N. action on rocket
| International
|  
Palestinians launch rocket into Israel  
EU gives time to rein in ballooning deficits  
Indonesian police act on parliament bomb threat
| International
|  
Scientists in possible cold fusion breakthrough  
Tuberculosis ravages HIV/AIDS patients: WHO  
Obama, astronauts talk up green energy in call  
Lawmaker: Global warming plan won't be in budget  
US military deaths in Afghanistan region at 597  
Dell unveils new servers, storage for tight budgets
| Technology
|  
North Dakota braces for record floods  
T-Mobile USA unveils high-speed plans, new device
| Technology
|  
Blockbuster aims beyond stores with TiVo deal
| Technology
|  
US Embassy spills over onto Mexico City street  
Obama to hold online question session Thursday
| Technology
|  
Syrian leader: Syria to wait before judging Obama  
Upstart OnLive takes aims at global console makers
| Technology
|  
Upstart OnLive takes aims at global console makers  
US overhauls strategy on Mexican drugs war  
Obama to hold online question session Thursday  
US: NKorea says US reporters will be treated well  
U.S. online video viewing off 12 percent in February:ComScore  
Hayfever robots help take the sting out of spring
| Technology
|  
"Unafraid" China apparently fears YouTube  
Microsoft's WorldWide Telescope to focus on Mars  
Google search gets semantic  
Second man charged with killing N Ireland police  
EU travellers to get cheaper mobile messages  
Second man charged with murder of N Ireland police  
Radar deal paves way for new wireless system in Italy  
France to finally compensate nuclear test victims  
Forensics show Spector innocent of murder: lawyer
| Entertainment
|  
Report: NKorea suspects US journalists were spying  
HBO movie taking on Clintons, Blair
| Entertainment
|  
North Korea warns against U.N. action on rocket  
Motown drummer Uriel Jones dies in Michigan
| Entertainment
|  
NKorea to treat detained journalists well: US  
4 Dutch journalists detained in Indonesia's Papua  
Supreme Court considers anti-Hillary Clinton movie
| Entertainment
|  
Afghan TV station manager arrested over content  
The Offspring hitting road after four-year break
| Entertainment
|  
Nobel meeting postponed over Dalai Lama visa spat  
Forensics show Spector innocent of murder: lawyer  
Obama calls Rudd a partner for 'years to come'  
Anne Hathaway tapped to play Judy Garland  
Dutch journalists detained in Indonesian Papua: police  
Indonesia military says no 'direct' payments from US miner  
Scandal-hit Japan opposition chief fights on  
NZ's consumer confidence slips in Q1-survey  
S.Korea bonds fall ahead of gov't supply steps  
Violence scars a scared community in 'Zooman'  
Korea Hot Stocks  
Forensics show Spector innocent of murder: lawyer  
Japanese exports suffer another record plunge  
An awkward romance sinks B'way's 'Impressionism'  
Japan posts first trade surplus in 5 months  
The Offspring hitting road after four-year break  
Seoul shares open lower; banks take a breather  
List of top 20 shows in prime-time Nielsen ratings  
S.Korea fin min says to let market decide won  
`Dancing' inching up on Fox's `Idol'  
World hotel prices slump: survey  
South Korean March consumer sentiment ticks down  
China's proposal on launching a global currency 'serious'  
George Lopez to launch TBS talk show in November  
China raises prices of diesel, gasoline  
"Wallace & Gromit" in episodic computer game  
Phil Spector's attorney: Actress killed herself  
Indonesia seeks 20 years for terror suspect  
Netanyahu pledges to pursue peace with Palestinians
| International
|  
U.S. drone kills at least 7 in Pakistan tribal area
| International
|  
AP IMPACT: It's fear that keeps Baghdad's peace  
Two Afghan farmers shot dead by NATO-led troops: police
| International
|  
Czech leftists say will not back any Topolanek government
| International
|  
Explosion in southeastern Turkey seen killing one  
Netanyahu pledges to push Mideast peace  
Israel unlawfully used shells in Gaza: rights group
| International
|  
Boost for Netanyahu as Labour votes to join govt  
German Ifo confidence index falls to record low  
North Korea places missile on launch pad: report
| International
|  
Seven killed in Afghan bus attack: ministry  
Snacking during labour is OK, study finds  
Sudan's Bashir visits Egypt despite ICC warrant
| International
|  
Madagascar's Rajoelina seeks talks to calm crisis
| International
|  
Seven Afghans killed in bus bomb: government  
Cool welcome for Iraq's returning academics
| International
|  
Zimbabwe must clear arrears to get IMF help: Fund
| International
|  
Violence-plagued Mexico hopes for U.S. border plan  
Urban League asks Obama to address black issues  
UK must pry on data to block threats: ex-spy boss
| Technology
|  
11-year-old faces life sentence for murder: report  
Road rage goes virtual on Aussie motoring website
| Technology
|  
Road rage goes virtual on Aussie motoring website  
General says NATO can't measure Afghan war performance  
YouTube confirms website blocked in China  
Nokia invests in mobile money firm Obopay
| Technology
|  
US to 'do more' against Mexican drug cartels  
Hayfever robots help take the sting out of spring  
Facebook vows 'improvements' after user backlash  
T-Mobile USA unveils high-speed plans, new device  
Mexicans praise US border security measures  
Teenage hacker takes on cyber-crime for NZ telco  
Dell unveils new servers, storage for tight budgets  
Google executives get one-dollar paychecks in 2008  
Nokia invests in mobile money firm Obopay  
"Cloud-based" console takes aim at Wii, PS3, Xbox 360  
Thai fireman dresses as Spiderman to rescue boy  
Minister: Guide may have led Americans into NKorea  
Cambodia says Thai troops crossed border  
Doubling space station crew will further research  
Japan readies N.Korean rocket launch response  
China fights gerbil plague with 'the pill'  
Filipino militants threaten to behead hostage  
HBO movie taking on Clintons, Blair  
N.Korea preparing for rocket launch: report  
Pakistani police clash with protesters; 1 killed  
Bomb kills 10 civilians in eastern Afghanistan  
Brits dust off their dancing shoes  
Top Chinese banks warn on outlook as profits soar  
`Idol' finalists savor group prize: concert tour  
Philippines warns budget deficit may exceed limit  
It's a dog's life for India's growing pet industry  
Korean official: G-20 stimulus must be ambitious  
Haggard says he suggested divorce after scandal  
S.Korea unveils measures to ease bond supply shock  
Fear and fun in Acapulco for spring break  
Japan not ruling out another rate cut  
HBO movie taking on Clintons, Blair  
POSCO to convert some of bond proceeds into won-official  
Indonesia releases Dutch journalists in Papua  
PetroChina 2008 net profit falls 28 pct  
Indonesian minister wants to review vaccinations  
Taiwan dollar closes at week low, more weakness seen  
Chinese stocks fall after 7-day advance  
China shares fall after week-long rally  
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro  
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found  
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever  
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production  
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time  
AMD to Start Production of piledriver  
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs  
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia  
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air  
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch  
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent  
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up  
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform  
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis  
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets  
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights