Di Yi Cai Jing Zi Xun·2026-01-15 00:40Group 1 - Major U.S. banks have started the new earnings season with strong net interest income growth and robust trading performance, yet their stock prices are declining due to concerns over President Trump's credit card policy and skepticism regarding the government's lawsuit against Fed Chair Powell [1] - Analysts from S&P Global Market Intelligence express optimism about the banking industry's growth momentum continuing through 2026, estimating a significant increase in overall loan volume by 5.3% year-on-year by the end of 2025 [3] - Bank of America reported an 8% year-on-year increase in average loan volume, with net interest income reaching a record high of $15.9 billion, indicating positive signals for both the banking sector and the overall economy [3] Group 2 - Citigroup disclosed a 7% year-on-year increase in average loan volume driven by market operations and personal banking services, while Wells Fargo's commercial segment saw a 12% growth in loan volume [4] - Concerns arise regarding the potential impact of a proposed credit card interest rate cap of 10%, which could lead banks to tighten credit availability and hinder economic growth [5] - The S&P 500 bank index has declined nearly 3% this week amid worries over the credit card rate cap and underperformance in other banking segments, despite a 30% increase in the index throughout 2025 [6] Group 3 - There is a growing consensus among banking executives on the importance of maintaining the independence of the Federal Reserve, as political interference could lead to increased market inflation expectations and higher long-term interest rates [7] - Bank of America and Citigroup executives emphasize the critical nature of the Fed's independence for the U.S. economy, with concerns that Chair Powell may miss the upcoming congressional hearing due to legal issues [8]