Not many people know the meaning of “swap” (as in a financial hedge, not flea market). Only the most sophisticated investors actually understand the complexities of buffering risk by exchanging cash flows. Under Dodd–Frank, however, federal regulators have been tasked with assuming control of this market, in which hundreds of …
Sponsors of derivatives “reform” legislation claim it will reduce costs to derivatives users. Just how more government regulation is supposed to reduce costs in the private sector has never been exactly clear, but discussion at Wednesday’s Senate Agriculture Committee mark-up of derivatives reform legislation revealed that the “reform” will cost …
The U.S. government is a favorite target among spinners of conspiracy theories. From the Kennedy assasination to the Apollo Moon landing, the government has allegedly been at the heart of dark plots to deceive the public. Washington, however, can spin its own conspiracy theories. Case in point, Tuesday’s announcement by …
Liberals in Congress are desperate to head off the growing consensus for increased domestic oil production. Trying to convince her fellow Democrats not to cave in and allow oil exploration and production off the coast of California, Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-NY) explained: “This is our ethanol.” As persuasive as that …
