Customers Bancorp acquires $631 million loan portfolio from FDIC at discount

By Manya Saini and Saeed Azhar (Reuters) -Customers Bancorp said on Friday it acquired a $631 million venture banking loan portfolio from U.S. regulator Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) at about 85% of the book value. The portfolio belonged to failed lender Signature Bank, which was put under FDIC receivership in March, a source familiar…

Read More

US senators urge regulator to change guidance on Massachusetts auto law

By David Shepardson (Reuters) -Two U.S. senators on Thursday urged the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to reconsider its decision to tell automakers not to comply with a recently effective Massachusetts state “right to repair” law designed to allow customers access to vehicle data. Massachusetts voters approved a 2020 ballot initiative to allow independent…

Read More

US Senate panel to consider bill targeting failed bank executive pay

By Pete Schroeder WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Senate Banking Committee will consider a bill Wednesday that would allow regulators to claw back compensation for executives at failed banks. The measure, backed by committee Chairman Sherrod Brown and Senator Tim Scott, the panel’s top Republican, would give regulators the ability to reclaim two years’ worth…

Read More

U.S., Japan, Philippines discuss S China sea, North Korea

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The national security advisers of the United States, Japan and the Philippines on Friday discussed regional security issues and ways to strengthen the trilateral alliance, they said in a joint statement. It was the first meeting between White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan and his counterparts, Akiba Takeo of Japan and…

Read More

US consumers’ near-term inflation expectations hit two-year low; sentiment rises

By Lucia Mutikani WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. consumers’ near-term inflation expectations dropped to more than a two-year low in June and the outlook over the next five years improved slightly, according to a survey on Friday that also showed sentiment perking up. The University of Michigan’s survey followed data this week showing annual consumer and producer…

Read More

Crypto investors step up risk management after last year’s meltdowns

By Elizabeth Howcroft LONDON (Reuters) -Cryptocurrency investors have grown more cautious about who they do business with, after being burned last year by sudden collapses of Celsius Network, Voyager Digital, FTX and others, and fearing a regulatory crackdown will put more pressure on remaining firms. The recent crypto platform bankruptcies trapped customer assets now worth…

Read More

Pentagon chief expresses optimism over eventual talks with Chinese counterpart

BRUSSELS (Reuters) – U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin expressed optimism on Friday that he would eventually hold talks with his Chinese counterpart after being snubbed by Beijing during an event in Singapore earlier this month. “I’m confident that, over time, that’s going to happen. We’re going to meet at some point in time. But we’re…

Read More

Pentagon chief urges Turkish counterpart on Sweden’s NATO entry

BRUSSELS (Reuters) -U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said he urged Turkey to allow Sweden’s entry into NATO during an introductory meeting on Friday with his new Turkish counterpart Yasar Guler during a gathering of NATO defense ministers in Brussels. “My purpose in meeting him today was an introductory meeting, just to congratulate him on being…

Read More