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Stop Manipulating Bank Earnings With Loan-Loss Reserves, Currency Comptroller Warns
Readers of Zero Hedge know well that one of the most abhorred (by us) accounting gimmicks employed by banks each and every quarter over the past 3 years to boost their bottom line, is to engage in loan-loss reserve releases: a process which has absolutely no associated cash flow benefit, but merely boosts EPS for GAAP purposes. In some cases, like this quarter's absolutely farcical JPM earnings release, the abuse is beyond the pale, as the offending bank releases reserves even as it reports surging non-performing loans: two processes which in a normal world can not coexist. Yet quarter after quarter banks keep on doing this, and in fact a big part of Q3's to date EPS outperformance is courtesy of financial company "earnings", of which, in turn, loan losses amount to about 50% of the entire blended financials bottom line. Yet while we can rage and warn, nothing usually happens until there is a market crash due to the gross manipulation of reality that such an activity entails. Luckily, this time someone with more clout in the legacy establishment has now stood up to warn about the mounting dangers associated with the relentless abuse of loan-loss reserve releases: none other than the US Comptroller of the Currency.
From WSJ:
The U.S. could stop banks from boosting their earnings by cutting back on reserves held against future loan losses, a top bank regulator said Monday, arguing that the economy remains too rocky for financial institutions to lower their cushions.
Comptroller of the Currency Thomas Curry has been warning for several months about the practice of bank-reserve releases, which occur when banks add less to their loan-loss reserves than they write off for uncollectible loans. The difference has bolstered banking profits in recent quarters.
Mr. Curry repeated his criticism in a speech before a group of bank risk managers in Dallas, citing the potential for future losses in residential and commercial real estate.
"I remain very concerned that too many institutions are continuing to reduce provisions solely to boost earnings," Mr. Curry said.
Yet, sadly, while the US "could" intervene, it won't for the simple reason that everyone in the US is beholden to these same banks whose ongoing fake profitability is critical to the status quo, the government and everyone in it. After all the, everyone has now gone all in on the massive systemic ponzi. And the Currency Comptoller will be the last to dare to pull the plug on what is a black capital hole amounting to trillions and trillions of dollars.
"We are ready to take action if and when it is needed," he said.
Regulators are concerned banks will suffer more losses from borrowers who took out home-equity loans from 2004 to 2008, as the housing bubble grew and then burst, Mr. Curry said. Most of those loans allowed borrowers to make only interest payments for seven to 10 years. When that period ends, some borrowers are unlikely to be able to meet monthly payments that are increased to include principal. And many likely won't be able to refinance.
Action is needed. Observe the billions in "profits" JPM alone has made from loan-loss reserve releases (blue bar):
Alas, no action will be taken. And it is this hypocrisy that makes a total mockery of all the so-called regulators in the US. Because at least the banks are honest in their ongoing manipulation and fraud: they benefit from it, and why not: after all nobody dares to stop them.
It is the regulators whose job is to put an end to this behavior. But they are afraid: for their jobs, for their legacy, for their petty egos.
As long as this doesn't change, the US economy, and its capital markets, just continue happily day after day, to the most epic crash every imagined. The good news is that only that terminal event has any hope of changing all these things that we, and even the regulators now, lament.
Everything else is hollow rhetoric.
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fuck you bernanke and shapiro
Good to know there is still someone in the profession who cares...
Well how about Spire Law Group caring? http://www.scribd.com/doc/111301234/43-Trillion-Complaint
It looks as if Spire is launching a $43T lawsuit against the banksters? The only outlet to publish this article, CNBC, took the story down shortly after the children of Kevin Krim, SVP/GM of CBNC Digital, were found murdered http://www.kvue.com/news/176007461.html.
Kevin's LinkedIn Profile - http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=32401&authType=NAME_SEARCH&authToken=hkBe&locale=en_US&srchid=a108f4ed-bace-47b9-9902-0400df54b81d-0&srchindex=1&srchtotal=2&goback=%2Efps_PBCK_Kevin+Krim_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*2_*1_Y_*1_*1_*1_false_1_R_*1_*51_*1_*51_true_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2&pvs=ps&trk=pp_profile_name_link
wow. thanks for that.
the introduction reads like a ZH article. and then it goes on to name some pretty big names. ZHelaots, even if you don't enjoy reading torts, motions or complaints, the table of contents alone is worth a scan.
it's tightly composed; gonna be tough for a judge to dismiss it outright...especially in the current political climate.
"it's tightly composed.... table of contents alone is worth a scan" Really? Contents like "The Nixonian enemies list" won't get too far in front of a judge IMO.
This just proves that Enron-style accounting works so long as it's let allowed to, bitchez.
Thanks for the heads up on the 43T lawsuit. Excellent!
I hope info on this goes viral.
a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma - or, just more BS ..
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021652224#post1
While the suit has valid and provable claims,its very unfornuate that the principles in the Spire
group have a few clouds over their name.
Squeeeze play probably.and they will sell their clients up the river.
Financials actually look pretty good. Check out the chart on XLF. Close to breaking out.
Gee if we only had a president who wasn't a paid off pig and whose attorney general wasn't a paid off pig we might see real criminal charges. If that lawsuit actually makes it through and they pay anything the rest of us will be hit with the charges because they will pass the costs on!
Oliver Stone rips Obama
snip
Politico cites some of the critiques of Obama made by Stone and Kuznick:
On Wall Street reform: "The biggest winner under Obama was Wall Street."
Why Does the SEC Protect Banks’ Dirty Secrets?
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-10-29/who-benefits-from-keeping-interest-rates-low-.html
The complaint reads poorly. Can't imagine it getting far.
Next blogpost title: STOP TRYING TO INTERFERE WITH OUR NUMBERS GAME OR WE WON'T BE CONTRIBUTING TO YOUR BOSS' RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN, BANKS WARN
Has as much teeth as Bart Chilton!
Watch out jeff314,Tyler(s) will spank you if he (they) is(are)having a bad hair day.
the whole world hated\s america you dignify rabid dogs fuck you guys are aweful you filthy dead fucks you filthy american cunts supperate bleed a and die you repulsive dogs
nother drink for my fiend here...
Financial engineering at its finest.
When this thing pops, it'll be heard as far as Pluto.
Nancy Pelosi should be able to hear it then?
That would be (h)uranus then
There are so many manipulations and distortions of data in this economy and markets that they have to have an algo dedicated to keeping the manipulators of the manipulations in line.
Yep. This is the epitome of moral hazard. There are NO consequences for criminal behavior so even potential criminals previously kept in check by risk reward calculations become criminal.
Consider what the effect would be of all those fancy restaurants in NYC adopting exactly the same criminal behavior in regard to what ingredients are put in the food or whether earthworms are labelled as $300 exotic eels. How do those criminals that eat at the high priced joints know they aren't eating stray dog when they are told it is $500 veal fettuccini?
What goes around really does come around, even for the world capital of criminality.
It's like complaining to a fairy for using her magic wand...makes no sense! On the other hand....I always loved fairy tales. Too bad I have grown up!
We've all heard the saying "the adults in the room." The basic meaning of this idiom is that it is all fine and good to daydream, to imagine, to play, but eventually it is time to put aside childish things and step up to the challenges we face. Used to be, men like the Chairman of the Federal Reserve was an adult in the room. No more. Now the Chairman recites fairy tales and sprinkles fairy dust (to his very bestest friends). But don't worry your little heads. We're all gonna live happily ever after.
Well the purpose of QEtc becomes quite clear. With his massive MBS bailout, Helicopter Ben has assured the banks that they will be able to release massive loan loss reserves for some time.
But rest assured, the Fed's objective is to help the 99%.
Someone I know and trust has a friend working in the innards of a large, unnamed bank, one that now has assets country-wide. The word is that the foreclosure overhang will will start coming on the market Q2 of next year. Why not sooner was a question. "It is an election year after all and Q1 is a bad market time"
What would this do to loan loss reserves I ask myself
Actually, my understanding is that the more relevant question would now be "what would this do to banks balance sheets". With their loan loss reserves now released, the banks are gambling that the foreclosures wont hit them. But if they do, they're exposed. But again, they know the Fed's got their back...
Moral hazard 101.
Bullish hookers and blow.
The state in which the rulers are the most reluctant to govern is always the best and most quietly governed; and the state in which they are the most eager, the worst.
Love your homespun completely baseless bulshit, keep it up, moron.
Yea, that Plato. He was a crazy motherfucker.
Cicero too if I'm not too far off on 'the Greatest Quotes in Western History.'
I find it interesting now that the Eastern Seaboard has been "taken down for the forseeable future" the news flow has a sudden upsurge in "seriousness." not that the clowns in the MSM don't want anything but "all the stupid part of the storm" (no this won't cost money. No this won't money...well, "maybe ten billion.") which of course makes times like these the best time to troll for food info. (head of Apple map department fired, UBS lays off 10,000, Spanish consumption completely collapses, ... Stories that normally Zero Hedge would be reporting on but interestingly is not. Storms over folks! Move along!) it will be intersting to see how the 100's of billions in damage claims are in fact disbursed. Government is excited of course cuz "it's time to take it to the man"...and since Insurance companies are sitting on trillions in cap gains from Fed policy over the past many decades...these Governors should be licking their jops. I will say this: the entire trucking industry is on the move. Will gasoline spike to ten bucks a in Jersey? We shall see...
i expect obama will be firing this guy soon enough. afterall, it was obama that guided the banks to load up their BS in Q1, 2009 with loss provisions (take a HUGE 1 time hit) and then release over time to give illusion of recovery.
Good point actually. At least "until the Storm came ashore." now you have an iNSURANCE event. And of course the first thing the banks insure "in case of catastrophe" is the mortgage on the property. And unlike MBS that is NOT done in house...but "by that company over there." hence "First Claim" has already been paid to...
There's something about that Comptroller's job that encourages honest analysis. Dave Walker ranted about ponzi government accounting and the baby boom crisis for a decade as US Comptroller and beyond. He was totally ignored too.
http://money.cnn.com/2008/10/28/magazines/fortune/babyboomcrisis_walker.fortune/
Those loan loss reserves go right into bonus checks. Looting the company in plain sight of everyone is okay these days I guess.
Ding ding ding ding! we have a winner. Hence, bullish hookers and blow.
Tyler - The banks are only doing what BenDover wants them to. It's all part of the Ponzi. Fed buys the long dated from banks, ponzi's up the real estate market, allows banks to mark to model their RE positions higher, then encourages banks to tale less loan loss reserves.
In theory, this helps to prop up equity and corporate bond prices and Voila ! the "Wealth Effect" remains in play for the consumers to consume.
The margin for error is getting sliver thin....BenDover is all in on this theory.
It does not bother the market. The market is made up of computer chips in majority and human gambler who are playing with someone else's money (in monority).
It bothers the regulators but we know they are not going to do anything to upset status quo.
So roll on, step on the gas on a car without brakes, until ...
Bank earnings and feces have a lot in common.
Unfortunately Bankers, Regulators and Politicians also have a lot in common with feces, so like bank earnings, it is all wash in the end.
What's he gonna do, write em a ticket?
He sure as hell isn't going to send any of them to jail...
Its like the tree in the forest that falls...
A default only occurs when someone actaully claims not to have been paid....
Yeah, boost bank earnings the old-fashioned way.... suspend mark-to-market.
I totally agree. All the off balance sheet crap should be clearly stated and marked to market every month/quarter. This would instantly provide badly needed clarity and cause a lot of banks to implode.
By the time this clears to the market , hyperinflation will push notional prices so high that all houses will be 'investments' again.
Banks are also playing games with RE valuations. They ask for leased fee instead of fee simple values. The avoids the reality of realty.... market rents are less than contract rents. Tenants are being smart and threaten to walk if there are no concessions yet the leased fee value is used to 'mark to market.' Its all a farce that hopes to extend until reailty meets hope.
But if banks can't manipulate their earnings by jiggering the ALLL, how do you expect them to manipulate them at all? Aren't they required to manipulate earnings somehow?
Oh, don't worry - the OCC will definitely take action. Unfortunately it will be action taken against the regional and community banks in the country, not the large international banks such as Citi/JPMC/BOA etc...The plan since the early 80's was to allow the regionals/community banks to develop the smaller markets and then strangle them with regulation thereby forcing the consolidation that has been going on since the early 90s. The large banks have been in complete control of the regulators for well over 30 years.
Ha - Ha!!
Timmy, Bennie and Jaime would not be caught in the same room with this person, accepting any financial advice. He is spitting into the wind as no one is listening, least of all the "well respected" accounting profession.
look you cunts pease die you are un\quely repulsive vomit material the whole worrld despises you you are warm vomit hitler in 37 you niggers are revolting the worst people on the planet revolting bleeding cunts get off the planet
the whole world hates america its universal acceptance you will be taken in toledo stunned in spokane 6 point 7 million want you dead you fucking diogs we will barbecue on the family spit you horrors
you are the worst creatures on this planet you repulsive arrogant dogs you have managed to offend the entire word you witless coons kindlnn y die get gome
say again
The OCC has shown signs of wanting to properly regulate banks. No wonder Henry Paulson submitted this serious proposal to eliminate it
http://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Documents/Blueprint.pdf
Queue in and get ready to sue AUDITORS when ......
die and get gone you a americann cunts the entire world viciously hates you 55 percent of your chickenshit co nountry on social assistamce you comedians you reside in fuck city on borrwed money
the jig is up feed your coonds in the back door like the old days \ 155 million on borrowed social assistance
n the back door you dream go die fucking begone you preposterous poseurs
you people are spe ac ctularly clues ess fuck you americans are wild dumb you are witless dumbed down bipeds in fur the dumbest bipeds on this planet walking armageddons and stay tuned you go decidly badly meet rufus organize some chitlngs you hapless fucks
you people are spe ac ctularly clues ess fuck you americans are wild dumb you are witless dumbed down bipeds in fur the dumbest bipeds on this planet walking armageddons and stay tuned you go decidly badly meet rufus organize some chitlngs you hapless fucks
yeah Triffin said something like that, though he made sense
What? Y'all frying up some chit'lins? And didn't invite me?
What a riot! Just wait until the Corporations start breaking out the "Loss Carry Forwards" that sit on the balance sheets of "C" corps and on the pass-through K-1 long tax forms of CEO's and Owners due to the deflation the last 5 years. These loss carry forwards amount to hundreds of billions of dollars worth of offsets against future tax liabilities. Large corporations and financial institutions have amassed such a large reserve of these credits that it will guarantee that they will not pay taxes for the next decade; no matter how much they increase taxes. These loss carry forwards are transferable through acquisition as a profitable business can buy a non profitable business, with large carry forwards on their balance sheets and import them to the profitable balance sheet, offsetting any taxes that may be due. Debt cannot be vaporized out of existance as past losses must be written off against future gains through tax levy accounting.
you are hitler redux about 1936 dumb beyind comprehension 6 point seven billion people mortally hate your guts you are viciously dspised you are germany 1936 you filthy fucking animals have your laugh comedians make it fucking hearty get your affairs un order
"I'll take 'visible symptoms of fetal alcohol syndrome' for $400, Alex."
Nobody will have seen the next financial crisis coming.
Are there any stats about the number of open interest only loans? Duration would be icing on the cake but I was thinking of something like this.
hmm.... -a group of bank risk managers in Dallas.
Risk? What Risk?
And the Currency Comptoller will be the last to dare to pull the plug on what is a black capital hole amounting to trillions and trillions of dollars.
*********
Ewwwww--marked to market?
Can't have that or Bernanke's "I will make sure deflation never happens here" quote would go for shit at warp speed-