Bank's potential risks raises questions

The ratings agencies have voiced confidence in the credit worthiness of the biggest of the big banks. The agencies seemed to have hedged a bit on Bear Stearns, with its small capital base, however. Still, as The New York Times notes, the potential risk to top banks from the credit crunch is hard to assess because it's unclear exactly what loans or bonds they actually hold. The erstwhile Richard Bove, of Punk Ziegel & Company, was quoted: "The banks simply refuse to disclose that information." He remains pessimistic in the short-term. Some of course see this as an opportunity. It seems fair to say that there will be a lot less fee-generation from the deal boom, which is over for the next year or so. Citigroup has apparently given up a lot of revenue.  

For more:
- here's the article from The New York Times