This book conducts a simulation study creating universal, hypothetical bank holding companies (BHCs) through mergers to examine whether BHC expansion into nonbank business areas, those currently prohibited by law, will increase the riskiness of the universal BHCs. Part 2 reviews the contemporaneous literature and Part 3 discusses the weaknesses of that literature. Later sections specify an analytical model and describe the date and estimating procedure as well as presenting empirical results.

This book is a study of how expanded bank powers could affect the banking industry in the US. Using contemporaneous measures, expanded data, a finer classification of industries, risk-reducing behavior, and the legal and regulatory environment this volume provides a more complete picture than earlier studies.

This book examines the trend and growth of non-banking financial companies (NBFCs), both from balance sheet and regulations view-points. It further investigates the role of NBFCs in furthering financial inclusion, last-mile delivery of credit and their contribution to financial sector. Since the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) formally recognised the NBFCs in India in 1964, they have increased significantly in terms of size, form and types of products and instruments. They have also managed their asset quality better than banks. Traditionally they were dependent on banks for funds, but after the global financial crisis they began to tap the capital market. Concomitantly, the RBI regulations have closed the fault lines and tightened rules. The book assesses whether NBFCs in India should be treated as shadow banks, discusses how to achieve the right amount of regulation and safeguards without unduly stifling the NBFC sector, and studies the funding opportunities and challenges of NBFCs in India. As such, it serves as a basic reference for students in finance, and a valuable tool for professionals such as policymakers and investment analysts and other stakeholders in the finance area.

The role of international banks within the developed economies has come under increasingly hostile public scrutiny, yet little attention has been paid to the structure and purpose of the banks themselves. Most existing studies concentrate on the part played by international banks as intermediaries in the domestic and international economy, failing to consider the foremost concern of the banks themselves – their success as business enterprises. This book examines the practical problems faced by the Universal Multinational banks (UMNBs) in the fields of strategic planning and business development. It explains the common constraints encountered by the UMNBs, showing that, whether they like it or not, current market pressures are governing their policies in all the developed economies. Through studying the management structures and business policies of these banks this book provides a much clearer picture of their activities in the world economy. Initially, it concentrates on the UMNBs of the USA since they have provided a strategic model for other global banking concerns. The UMNBs of Japan, Britain, France, Germany, Canada and Switzerland are then discussed to establish their similarities and differences: case studies are included at the end of each chapter to illustrate and reinforce the points made in the preceding text. Although written in 1984 the author successfully predicted many of the subsequent developments in the field of information technology and competition in world markets, which led to the emergence of global financial enterprises.

The current report finds that short-term risks to global financial stability have abated since April 2016, but that medium-term risks continue to build. Financial institutions in advanced economies face a number of cyclical and structural challenges and need to adapt to low growth and low interest rates, as well as to an evolving market and regulatory environment. Weak profitability could erode banks’ buffers over time and undermine their ability to support growth. A cyclical recovery will not resolve the problem of low profitability. More deep-rooted reforms and systemic management are needed, especially for European banks. The solvency of many life insurance companies and pension funds is threatened by a prolonged period of low interest rates. Corporate leverage in emerging market economies remains elevated in some countries, but the current favorable external environment presents an opportunity for overly indebted firms to restructure their balance sheets. The political climate is unsettled in many countries. A lack of income growth and a rise in inequality have opened the door for populist, inward-looking policies. These factors make it even harder to tackle legacy problems and further expose economies and markets to shocks. A potent and more balanced policy mix is needed to deliver a stronger path for growth and financial stability, and avoid slipping into a state of financial and economic stagnation. The report also examines how the rise of nonbank financing has altered the impact of monetary policy and finds that fears of a decline in the effectiveness of monetary policy are unfounded. It appears that the transmission of monetary policy is, if anything, stronger in economies with larger nonbank financial sectors. Finally, the report examines the link between corporate governance, investor protection, and financial stability in emerging market economies. It finds that the improvements over the past two decades have helped bolster the resilience of their financial systems. These benefits strengthen the case for further reform.