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The Financial Times has in-depth coverage of Bear Stearns attempt to sell itself to JP Morgan to avoid seizing up with a lack of capital. (h/t Calculated Risk). The biggest fears are that a meltdown by Bear could trigger a system-wide run on banks and capital, acting as the oft-coined “tipping point” to a system-wide panic and subsequent crash.
From the article about Bear Stearns lack of capital and sale to JP Morgan:
The Federal Reserve, which on Friday provided emergency funds to Bear, and the Treasury are watching the situation closely. The authorities fear that, unless the crisis is resolved promptly, traders may turn their sights on other US and European banks.
“The Fed is most nervous about the systemic risk,” said one senior executive at Bear, the fifth largest investment bank in the US. “The government needs to stabilise the financial system.”Hank Paulson, Treasury secretary, on Sunday sought to allay fears that the crisis of confidence that hit Bear - which was undone by clients’ rush to withdraw funds amid rumours over its financial health - would spread to the rest of the financial sector. “The government is prepared to do what it takes to maintain the stability of our financial system,” he said. “That’s our priority.”
More as it develops.
So which “other banks” are going to be the first ones? And when is it going to switch from just the investment banks to commercial banks too?
Does the Fed plan on saving every bank that will be in trouble? Why save Bear Sterns and then let Citi go outside the USA for funding to survive? Seems to me things are alot worse off than they are tellling people…buying a 100 year old company for $2 a share…are they getting a bargain and we will find out about it later?
It appears we are heading towards the proverbial perfect storm in this country, one that many astute experts can not see us getting out of.
Is it possible that what we feared might happen with Y2k is just around the corner and if so, will just trying to survive become the priority of the day?
“…trigger a system-wide run on banks…”
Does that mean a depression-style run or are they referring to a stock market run?
I’m still trying to understand where the money lent by the Feds came from, and am praying it wasn’t “borrowed’ from other coffers or earmarked funds.
Even the Forest Service knows now with its late-to-arrive wisdom that sometimes when it gets too thick with underbrush that fire’s must be allowed (and controlled) to clear out what could be an overwhelming fuel for major forest fires.
If we’re past that stage for controlling the flames, then better an earlier forest fire of banks tumbling from margin calls with a time-delimited damage effect, more than Fed’s playing Keystone Cop running from fiduciary to others with borrowed money splattering the Wall street pavement uselessly while entire economies begin to do the 1930’s dance of downward spiral of confidences in credit.
What about all those company soon to retire employees who have just found themselves looking for a job at Burger King instead of looking to go fishing? How about the bonuses that were paid out? Funny how this came out after everyone in the top 1% of the company got their blood money? And what about all the other shareholders who were not given the chance to vote on this buyout? And why weren’t other “investors” sought that would have given a higher buyout price? This is one stinky fish that is being wrapped up in a neat little package!
Everyone thinks JP Morgan got a great deal. Wait until all those Option ARMS you all sold with such zeal, and which later ended up in Bear’s portfolio, come up to haunt them. Time for more multi-billion dollar writedowns! But, hey, you all got your YSPs!!!
quite frankly, the govt should have an equity position for this bail out since the tax payers are footing the bill.
the feds have become nothing more then a leverage buy out firm