What is the Glass-Steagall Act?

In the wake of the Great Depression, the US government passed the Glass-Steagall Act in 1933, which was a key piece of law. It was developed to clearly distinguish commercial banking from investment banking in order to stop banks from making dangerous bets that would cause the economy to become unstable.

Many banks conducted both commercial and investment banking operations prior to the passage of the Glass-Steagall Act. This implied that banks could engage in high-risk business dealings with the potential for substantial losses to both the banks and their depositors.

In order to remedy this problem, the Glass-Steagall Act separated commercial banks from investment banks. Commercial banks were no longer allowed to engage in investment banking activities, such as underwriting securities or trading stocks and bonds. Similarly, investment banks were prohibited from accepting deposits or engaging in commercial banking activities.

The Glass-Steagall Act had several benefits for consumers and the economy. By separating commercial and investment banking activities, the act prevented banks from taking excessive risks with depositors' money. It also helped to ensure that banks remained focused on their core business of providing loans and other financial services to consumers and businesses.

Despite its benefits, the Glass-Steagall Act was not without controversy. Some argued that the act limited competition in the banking industry and made it more difficult for banks to provide a wide range of services to customers. Additionally, as the financial industry evolved and new types of financial instruments were created, the dividing line between commercial and investment banking became increasingly blurred.

In 1999, the Glass-Steagall Act was partially repealed by the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act. This allowed commercial banks to engage in limited investment banking activities and opened the door for mergers between commercial and investment banks.

The repeal of the Glass-Steagall Act was controversial, with some arguing that it contributed to the financial crisis of 2008. Critics argued that the repeal allowed banks to engage in risky investments and that it contributed to the growth of "too big to fail" institutions.

In response to the financial crisis, the government instituted a number of new regulations aimed at preventing another crisis from occurring. One of these regulations was the Volcker Rule, which reinstated some of the provisions of the Glass-Steagall Act. The Volcker Rule prohibits banks from engaging in certain types of risky investments and requires them to hold more capital to protect against losses.

Recently, there have been renewed calls for the reinstatement of the Glass-Steagall Act. In 2013, Senators Elizabeth Warren and John McCain introduced a bill that would have reinstated the act. The bill did not pass, but a similar bill was introduced in 2017.

Supporters of the Glass-Steagall Act argue that separating commercial and investment banking activities is necessary to protect consumers and prevent another financial crisis. Critics, however, argue that the act would limit competition in the banking industry and make it more difficult for banks to provide a wide range of services to customers.

The Glass-Steagall Act was a significant piece of legislation aimed at preventing banks from engaging in risky investment activities. Although it was partially repealed in 1999, its legacy lives on in the form of the Volcker Rule and renewed calls for its reinstatement. As the financial industry continues to evolve, it is likely that debates over the role of regulation in the banking industry will continue.

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