General
Federal deficit estimated at $984B, highest in seven years Niv Elis, The Hill
The federal budget deficit for 2019 is estimated at $984 billion, a hefty 4.7 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) and the highest since 2012, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) said on Monday.
Powell Lauds Former Fed Chairman for Forging Fed’s Independence Christopher Condon, Bloomberg
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell praised one of his early predecessors for laying the foundations for the independence of the U.S. central bank, in comments that looked back to the 1930s but resonate strongly today.
New Kind of Recession Threat Presents Problem for Powell and Fed Rich Miller, Bloomberg
This won’t be your father’s recession — if indeed the U.S. ends up tumbling into one.
Impeachment Fight May Help a New NAFTA Deal Carl Hulse and Emily Cochrane, The New York Times
The escalating impeachment drama between Congress and the White House that has all but doomed hopes of most legislative progress this fall has instead enhanced the prospects for approval, within weeks, of one major initiative: a sweeping new trade agreement among the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Here’s what Congress may do to fix Social Security this fall Lorie Konish, CNBC
When Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr., D-N.J., visited a senior living center in Englewood, New Jersey, last week, he had one main focus: Social Security reform. Speaking to a room full of older Americans, Pascrell painted an urgent picture of what needs to happen in order to shore up the nation’s insurance program.
Erie Hit ‘Rock Bottom.’ The Former Factory Hub Thinks It Has a Way Out. Ruth Simon and Kris Maher, The Wall Street Journal
To local leaders, a row of abandoned redbrick buildings in the heart of this Rust Belt city’s ailing downtown presents the best hope to spark a citywide revival.
U.S. Futures, Stocks Slide as Trade Tensions Flare: Markets Wrap Samuel Potter, Bloomberg
U.S. equity-index futures extended a retreat alongside European stocks on Tuesday as investor optimism over looming trade talks was knocked by news the White House is moving toward possible restrictions on capital flows into China. Treasuries and gold advanced.
Banking
New York Fed Adds $47 Billion to Financial System Robert Barba, The Wall Street Journal
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York added $47.05 billion to the financial system Monday by using the market for repurchase agreements, or repo, to relieve funding pressure in money markets.
Deutsche Bank Plans About Half of 18,000 Job Cuts in Germany Steven Arons, Bloomberg
Deutsche Bank AG intends to make about half its planned 18,000 job cuts in Germany as it relies on savings at the retail units to lower costs, according to people familiar with the matter.
The end of Libor: the biggest banking challenge you’ve never heard of Sinead Cruise, Lawrence White, Reuters
On June 30, British bank NatWest (RBS.L) sent out an arcane-sounding press release – bus operator National Express (NEX.L) had become the first company to take out a loan based on Sonia, a replacement for scandal-hit interest rate benchmark Libor. It was billed as the first switch of thousands that British firms would make by end-2021, when the benchmark is set to be decommissioned.
Are small banks doing enough to counter margin pressure? Jim Dobbs, American Banker
A number of economic shifts, including a flat-to-inverted yield curve, is putting more pressure on community banks to find ways to boost their bottom lines.
Financial Products and Investments
Index funds invest trillions but rarely challenge management Tim McLaughlin and Ross Kerber, Reuters
Index funds now control half the U.S. stock mutual fund market, giving the biggest funds enormous power to influence decisions and demand better returns at the companies in which they invest trillions of dollars.
Ruling cuts short debt collectors’ victory lap over CFPB proposal Kate Berry, American Banker
Debt collectors notched a victory when the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau proposed allowing more use of electronic communication. But industry lawyers are worried a recent court decision could thwart that plan.
Housing and GSEs
Confidence in housing weakens just as homes become more affordable Diana Olick, CNBC
Lower mortgage rates are making buying a home slightly more affordable, but financial concerns are outweighing that benefit and lowering overall confidence in housing.
Taxes
Supreme Court Lets New York Taxes on Part-Time Residents Stand Greg Stohr, Bloomberg
The U.S. Supreme Court left intact New York’s rules for taxing people who work in the state but live there only part-time, rejecting two appeals including one filed by the founders of Edelman Shoe Inc.
The District may approve one of the nation’s highest taxes on sugary drinks Fenit Nirappil, The Washington Post
A majority of the D.C. Council wants to impose one of the highest taxes on sugary drinks in the nation, driving up the cost of a soda in the capital city.
Financial Technology
Robinhood adds ex-SEC official to its board Bloomberg News
Robinhood Markets Inc. is getting a new board member: Dan Gallagher, a former commissioner for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The addition comes almost a year after a planned Robinhood checking account product was torpedoed by regulatory and insurance questions.
EU finance commissioner pledges to regulate digital currencies Francesco Guarascio, Reuters
The European Union’s finance commissioner pledged on Tuesday, if he is reappointed, to propose new rules to regulate virtual currencies such as Libra, the currency Facebook plans to launch.
Opinions, Editorials and Perspectives
The EXIM Bank Puts Americans First Christyn Lansing, Morning Consult
By facilitating the sale of American products to customers in other countries, EXIM is protecting jobs here at home and earning billions of dollars for taxpayers. Without EXIM, we will all pay.
CRA reforms must go beyond branch banking Richard Hunt, American Banker
The Community Reinvestment Act is more than 40 years old and has only been significantly amended once, in the mid-1990s when cellphones still played the snake game and there was a Blockbuster video on every corner.
Research Reports
NABE Panel Expects GDP Growth to Dip Below 2% in 2020, With Risks to the Outlook Heavily Skewed to the Downside National Association for Business Economics
The October 2019 NABE Outlook presents the consensus macroeconomic forecast of a panel of 54 professional forecasters. The survey, covering the outlook for 2019 and 2020, was conducted September 9-16, 2019.
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