US bank regulators move closer to proposing new 'Basel' rules for large banks | ReutersSkip to main content[Exclusive news, data and analytics for financial market professionalsLearn more aboutRefinitiv]The skyline of lower Manhattan is seen before sunrise in New York City, U.S., July 17, 2019. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid [Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab]WASHINGTON, Feb 13 (Reuters) - U.S. bank regulators appear to be moving closer to proposing a new version of the so-called "Basel endgame" rules dict ...

A month has gone by since the last earnings report for Bank of America (BAC) . Shares have lost about 0.1% in that time frame, outperforming the S&P 500.But investors have to be wondering, will the recent negative trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Bank of America due for a breakout? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at its most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important drivers.Bank of Amer ...

Core Viewpoint - JPMorgan Chase is facing a proposed class action lawsuit for allegedly paying near-zero interest rates on cash sweep accounts, which is claimed to be significantly lower than market rates despite rising federal funds rates [1][2]. Group 1: Legal Proceedings - A U.S. District Judge ruled that JPMorgan must address claims of breaching deposit account agreements by not adjusting interest rates according to economic conditions [3]. - The lawsuit alleges that the Cash Sweep programs resulted in customers losing billions in net interest income due to artificially low interest rates of 0.01% to 0.03% [2][6]. - Claims regarding breaches of fiduciary duties were dismissed, with the judge stating that automatic enrollment in the Cash Sweep programs was not a recommendation from JPMorgan [4]. Group 2: Industry Context - Other banks, including Wells Fargo and Bank of America, have faced similar lawsuits regarding cash sweep practices, with varying outcomes in court [5][6]. - In January 2025, Wells Fargo and Bank of America settled SEC civil charges related to their cash sweep practices for a total of $60 million, without admitting wrongdoing [6].

Core Insights - Wells Fargo's shares have increased by 14.2% over the past six months, outperforming the industry growth of 11.3% [1]. - The bank's peers, Citigroup and Bank of America, have seen their shares rise by 24% and 14%, respectively, during the same period [1]. Performance and Growth Drivers - The removal of the asset cap by the Federal Reserve in June 2025 allows Wells Fargo to expand its balance sheet, grow deposits, and increase loan balances, which is expected to drive loan growth in 2026 [4][5]. - Wells Fargo anticipates a net interest income (NII) of $50 billion in 2026, supported by balance-sheet growth and changes in loan mix [10][5]. - The bank's net interest income has shown a four-year compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.5% as of 2025 [8]. Strategic Initiatives - Wells Fargo is focusing on cost-cutting measures, including a 5.9% reduction in headcount and refurbishing 700 branches to enhance efficiency [5][16]. - The bank is also advancing its operational transformation through a phased rollout of artificial intelligence (AI) tools, which is expected to improve productivity and customer service [17]. - The company is pursuing a multi-year simplification plan to exit non-core businesses, aiming to cut costs by up to $10 billion annually and reallocate capital to higher-return areas [21][25]. Capital Management - Wells Fargo has raised its common stock dividend by 12.5% to 45 cents per share and has a robust share repurchase program with an additional $40 billion authorized [26][27]. - The bank's liquidity coverage ratio stands at 119%, exceeding the regulatory minimum, with liquid assets totaling $174.2 billion as of December 31, 2025 [28][29]. Valuation and Earnings Outlook - The Zacks Consensus Estimate indicates earnings growth of 9.9% and 12.8% for 2026 and 2027, respectively, although estimates have been revised downward recently [30]. - Wells Fargo's current price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is 12.71X, lower than the industry average of 14.29X, suggesting the stock is reasonably priced [32]. Conclusion - The removal of the asset cap and improved balance-sheet flexibility mark a significant turning point for Wells Fargo, enhancing its long-term outlook [35]. - Despite recent positive momentum, there are concerns regarding elevated expenses and downward revisions to earnings estimates, leading to a balanced risk-reward profile for investors [36][37].

Core Insights - Bank of America Community Development Banking provided $7.4 billion in financing in 2025, creating over 11,000 affordable housing units across 87 developments in 68 cities and 21 states [1] - Since 2020, the company has financed more than $42 billion, resulting in the creation and preservation of over 74,000 housing units in 335 cities across 40 states [1] - The focus on affordable housing is linked to improving stability and long-term opportunities for individuals and families, contributing to overall community wellness [1] Financing and Investments - In 2025, Bank of America closed direct and fund equity investments totaling $357 million for workforce and middle-income housing, targeting households earning up to 120% of the area median income [2] - These investments are aimed at creating over 3,400 new high-quality, attainable housing units in competitive housing markets across states including Florida, Georgia, Texas, California, Colorado, Virginia, and North Carolina [2] Health and Housing Initiatives - In 2025, Bank of America financed 39 developments with a healthcare component, providing access to health and wellness education, primary and preventative care, and supportive services [1][2] - The bank hosted a thought leadership event titled "A Meeting at the Intersection of Health and Housing" in Boston, connecting healthcare systems, affordable housing developers, and community leaders to improve health and housing outcomes [2] Community Engagement and Challenges - Bank of America hosted the 35th annual Affordable Housing Challenge, inviting teams to design innovative affordable housing developments, with many alumni pursuing careers in the affordable housing sector [2] - The company emphasizes collaboration with experienced developers and local/state agencies to address community needs and reduce housing insecurity [2]

Core Viewpoint - Italy's competition authority has initiated an investigation into Procter & Gamble for allegedly misleading advertisements regarding the Braun Skin i-Expert epilator, claiming it can keep users hair-free for two years, which the regulator deems exaggerated and inadequately demonstrated [1]. Company Summary - Procter & Gamble is facing scrutiny from Italy's competition authority over its advertising practices related to a body hair removal device [1]. - The specific product in question is the Braun Skin i-Expert epilator, which is claimed to provide long-lasting hair removal effects [1]. Regulatory Context - The investigation highlights the regulatory environment in Italy concerning consumer protection and advertising standards, particularly in the beauty and personal care sector [1].

Alamos Gold Inc. (NYSE:AGI) is included among the 11 Best Mining Stocks to Buy According to Wall Street. Bank of America Raises its Price Target on Alamos Gold Inc. (AGI) to $48 and Maintains a Buy Rating On February 9, 2026, Bank of America raised its price target on Alamos Gold Inc. (NYSE:AGI) to $48 from $47 and maintained a Buy rating. The firm said the adjustment followed refinements to its model after Alamos’ investor update, reflecting updated assumptions around production growth and cost trajecto ...

Core Insights - Orange County Bancorp, Inc. has appointed Robert Carr and Stephen Soper as Portfolio Managers at Orange Investment Advisors, effective immediately [1][2] Group 1: Appointments and Responsibilities - Carr and Soper will manage client portfolios according to individual investment objectives and the firm's investment philosophy, covering the entire client lifecycle from risk evaluation to portfolio monitoring [2] - Their leadership is expected to enhance the firm's investment capabilities during a period of growth [3] Group 2: Background of New Appointees - Robert Carr has over 25 years of experience in institutional sales and capital markets, previously serving as Principal at VS Asset Management [3] - Stephen Soper has more than 30 years in the financial industry, most recently as Vice President and Senior Trust Officer at Passumpsic Bank, with experience in wealth management and private banking [4] Group 3: Company Overview - Orange County Bancorp, Inc. is the parent company of Orange Bank & Trust Company and Orange Investment Advisors, with total assets of approximately $2.7 billion [5]

Geopolitical Influence - Geopolitics is currently the main driving force affecting oil prices, pushing them towards the high end of this year's range, with expectations of a price reversion to around $60 per barrel on Brent if a peace deal with Iran is reached or if limited skirmishes occur [1] Market Supply and Demand - The oil market is oversupplied, with rising inventories and an expected surplus of approximately 2 million barrels per day in the global Brent market this year [2][3] - OPEC has additional time to decide on production adjustments, but there is a significant amount of oil available in the market, and the price war initiated by OPEC to recover market share is not yet fully resolved [3] OPEC's Strategy - If oil prices exceed $70 per barrel and remain there, OPEC is likely to be incentivized to bring spare capacity back to the market [4] - OPEC is expected to increase oil production to recover market share, with a meaningful decline in super productive capacity anticipated over the next one to two years [5][7] U.S. Production Impact - Between 2022 and 2024, U.S. crude oil output increased by an additional 3 million barrels per day, which OPEC+ aims to avoid repeating [6] - A resurgence in U.S. shale output could occur if prices fall significantly below $70 per barrel, which is undesirable for OPEC [5][6]

Summary of GCM Grosvenor Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: GCM Grosvenor (NasdaqGM:GCMG) - **Industry**: Alternative Asset Management - **AUM**: $87 billion - **Client Approach**: 70% of AUM in customized separate accounts [1][3] Key Financial Highlights - **Record Fundraising**: $10.5 billion for the year, with $3.5 billion in Q4 [5][10] - **Performance Fees**: Strong performance fees from the ARS business, although realized carry revenue was lighter than expected [6][10] - **Operating Leverage**: Fee-related earnings margin increased by a couple of hundred basis points, with expectations for continued operating leverage [7][10] - **Pipeline Growth**: Current fundraising pipeline is larger than a year ago, indicating strong demand for alternative investments [10][15] Strategic Focus Areas - **Wealth Channel**: Identified as a critical area for long-term growth, with high re-up rates (90%) from clients and significant opportunities for cross-selling [18][21] - **Infrastructure Investments**: Targeting infrastructure assets due to fundamental demand, particularly in power generation and data centers [36][38] - **Credit Business**: Expanded to $17 billion AUM, with interest in credit secondaries and asset-backed credit [30][31] Market Dynamics - **Interest Rates and Demand**: Despite rising interest rates, demand for alternative investments remains strong, with no significant capital withdrawal from institutional clients [15][16] - **SaaS Exposure**: Low exposure (4% of AUM) to SaaS, with a belief that AI presents a significant opportunity for growth [12][13][14] Growth Initiatives - **Grove Lane Partners**: Joint venture aimed at enhancing the wealth platform through a dedicated distribution team [50][52] - **Private Label Products**: Development of customized products for RIA firms, with 11 relationships established in the last two years [56][58] Challenges and Opportunities - **Credit Quality Concerns**: Negative press around private credit has not significantly impacted fundraising, indicating resilience in client relationships [32][33] - **Infrastructure Growth**: Anticipated increase in target allocations for infrastructure investments as demand continues to rise [27][36] Future Outlook - **Long-term Goals**: Aiming to double fee-related earnings (FRE) from 2023 to 2028, with a target of $1.20 adjusted net income per share by 2028 [23][25] - **Market Positioning**: GCM Grosvenor is well-positioned to capitalize on growth opportunities in the wealth channel and infrastructure sectors, with a focus on maintaining strong client relationships and performance [21][22][36]