How banks are cutting risk by leaving the commodities business

Fed proposal is driving banks out of physical markets, says expert

In January 2014, the Federal Reserve issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) in which it raised questions regarding increased limits and restrictions on the physical commodities activities of financial holding companies (FHCs) under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956.

In the ANPR, the Fed cites recent environmental events as a reason for its review of physical commodities activities by FHCs. The notice cites the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, the incident at