Mizuho Securities To Settle With U.S. Regulator
Mizuho Financial Group Inc. (MFG, 8411.TO) has agreed to pay $127.5 million to settle charges that its U.S. investment banking unit misled investors in a collateralized debt obligation by using "dummy assets" to inflate the deal's credit ratings.
What if Libor Manipulation Helped Save Homeowners?
If banks joined Barclays in artificially lowering a key interest rate used to price all sorts of consumer loans and securities during the depths of the financial crisis, that move not only made the banks look better, but it also helped those who had loans at the time tied to Libor.
Freddie Mac Sees Encouraging Signs for Construction Workers
While unemployment in the construction sector remains high, hiring has picked up since last year and a pickup in the housing market may mean construction workers will soon return to work, said mortgage-finance company Freddie Mac (FMCC).