"The Fourth Edition of a leading resource in the field, this valuable practice tool brings you completely up-to-date on the evolving laws governing banks' securities activities - from regulatory changes in the financial markets and administrative reform to recent court decisions and legislative reform, including the recently enacted Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act. Here is everything you need to help build a bank's securities business while avoiding compliance pitfalls. Securities Activities of Banks, Fourth Edition provides: In-depth discussions of the securities activities now permissible for banks, bank holding companies, and financial holding companies, Clear explanations of how securities laws affect banks' securities activities, A complete review of how banks are regulated - including foreign banks and affiliates, Up-to-date analysis of the evolution of the banking laws through agency and court decisions. Detailed descriptions and analyses illuminate the full range of current bank securities activities, including investment and trading activities, brokerage activities, investment advice, underwriting, mutual funds, international securities activities, derivative instruments, deposits and loans, fiduciary activities, and more."--Publisher's website.

Empirical results highlight the downside of imposing certain regulatory restrictions on commercial bank activities. Regulations that restrict banks' ability to engage in securities activities and to own nonfinancial firms are closely associated with more instability in the banking sector, and keeping commercial banks from engaging in investment banking, insurance, and real estate activities does not appear to produce positive benefits.

Provides an in-depth overview of the Federal Reserve System, including information about monetary policy and the economy, the Federal Reserve in the international sphere, supervision and regulation, consumer and community affairs and services offered by Reserve Banks. Contains several appendixes, including a brief explanation of Federal Reserve regulations, a glossary of terms, and a list of additional publications.