The Federal Reserve announced this week that it will consider a proposal to modify the “Volcker Rule” at a May 30 meeting of its board.  As a provision of the 2010 Dodd-Frank Act that puts restrictions on proprietary trading practices at banks, enforcement of the Volcker Rule is currently shared by five separate federal agencies – The Fed, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).  (Fed Statement, May 23)

The Federal Reserve announced this week that it will consider a proposal to modify the “Volcker Rule” at a May 30 meeting of its board.

• “The Fed is the first regulator to set a date for discussing the proposal known as ‘Volcker 2.0.’ Four other agencies are also expected to adopt modifications to the rule. The changes will give large Wall Street banks more trading freedom, as regulators tweak restrictions on market making, hedging and other activities..” (The Wall Street Journal, May 25)
• Fed Vice Chairman for Supervision Randal Quarles in a March speech said, "It should be clearer and more transparent what is subject to the Volcker Rule’s implementing regulation and what is not. The definition of key terms like 'proprietary trading' and 'covered fund' should be as simple and clear as possible."  (American Banker, May 23)
• House policymakers are considering adding to  must-pass budget legislation a measure that would put the Fed in charge of regulating the Volcker Rule.  The measure, sponsored by Rep. French Hill (R-AR), passed the House in April but has faces an uncertain fate in the Senate.  (U.S. House Considers Adding Volcker Rule Shift to Budget Bill, Bloomberg, May 21)

The Dodd-Frank reform bill signed into law yesterday by President Trump exempts banks with less than $10 billion in assets from the Volcker Rule (named for former Fed Chairman Paul Volcker).