$56bn in bank fines equals $1.1tn less in bank lending…minimum

If you take that 5% capital (equity) leverage ratio they want to impose on banks in the US (in Europe only 3%) that signifies an allowed leverage of 20 to 1.

In this respect when Martin Arnold reports on December 27 “Penalties for lenders leap to record $56bn”, and as these penalties go against equity, I read $1.1tn less in bank lending… minimum... and this 2014 only... judicial masochism!

With all the QEs and other stimulus efforts going on; and all the increase of capital requirements for banks going on, the question remains: why on earth were these fines not forced to be paid out in fully paid in voting shares to be resold to the market?