Sen. Chris Dodd

POINT OF VIEW: The Volcker Rule, Or Volcker Rules

By Neal Lipschutz

A DOW JONES NEWSWIRES COLUMN

At least for the day, the most powerful man in the U.S. financial industry and for equities markets is 82 years old, a man who ended his leadership of the Federal Reserve more than 20 years ago.

But Paul Volcker is back. Big time. Reportedly on the margins of the Obama administration even in his current role as an adviser, “the tall guy behind me,” in the words today of President Barack Obama, is back on stage figuratively and literally.

As the president announced two major initiatives that would radically change the world of America’s big banks, he was flanked by Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and adviser Larry Summers. He also had with him two key Congressional leaders, Rep. Barney Frank (D., Mass.) and Sen. Christopher Dodd (D., Conn.).

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POINT OF VIEW: Our Better-Than-Nothing Fed

By NEAL LIPSCHUTZ
A DOW JONES NEWSWIRES COLUMN

NEW YORK — Summarizing the extremes of the Senate Banking Committee hearing today on the renomination of Ben Bernanke to lead the Federal Reserve will take two quotes.

We’ll start with Sen. Jim Bunning (R., Ky.), the only member of the upper chamber to vote against Bernanke the first time around and a time-tested antagonist of the U.S. central bank.

“In short, you are the definition of moral hazard,” he said.

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