Discussion Topic for 11/14/2011 (Mon)

Topic Background:

Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi resigned after 17 years of dominance in Italian politics on November 12, 2011.

Article:

Even as Governments Act, Time Runs Short for Euro 
Posted on November 13, 2011

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/13/world/europe/for-european-union-and-the-euro-a-moment-of-truth.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2&hp

Q1 After Italian Prime Minister's resignation, what kind of impact do you think it will have on Italy? Other than Italy, which country will mostly likely to be affected in Europe?

Q2 Do you think European market will experience fluctuation this week? To be specific, what kind of prediction could you make out of this incident? Overall, is this good news for the European zone and the global market?

Discussion Topics on 11/18/2011 (Fri)

Topic: The Dow dropped 190.57 points to close at 11905 after Fitch ratings released a report saying that US banks could be "greatly affected" if Europe's debt crisis continues to spread

Link: http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9R22U280.htm

Questions:

1) What are the reasons behind Fitch's report saying "the credit outlook for U.S. banks could worsen unless the euro zone's debt crisis isn't resolved in a 'timely and orderly' manner"? To be specific, is Fitch referring to any particular european country or incident happened recently in the debt crisis? 

2) Some remain optimistic towards U.S. market, saying "the U.S. could set a positive tone for the rest of the world markets by the end of the year even though Europe continues to be a problem". Do you agree or disagree, why or why not? Base your answers on the latest performance in U.S. financial market. 

Related stories:

1) http://news.businessweek.com/article.asp?documentKey=1376-LUST670D9L3501-1E0G3RO91QB1GKGIU3MSDIINF6

2) http://blogs.wsj.com/marketbeat/2011/11/17/fitch-rattles-market-again-this-time-with-warning-on-italy/?mod=google_news_blog

3) http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20111117-708478.html

153 Undercapitalized Banks

http://www.thestreet.com/stock-market-news/11311894/undercapitalized-banks--nov-15-2011-mil.html

Bank or S&L	State	Total Assets ▾	Tier 1 Risk-based Capital Ratio	Total Risk-based Capital Ratio
Alliant Bank	KS	$14	7.10	8.38
Hometown National Bank	WA	$18	6.66	8.10
American Eagle Savings Bank	PA	$20	3.84	4.14
First State Bank of Burlingame	KS	$25	4.66	5.91
Riverland Bank	MN	$27	4.13	5.42
Lone Summit Bank	MO	$28	6.35	7.63
Bank of Jackson County	FL	$29	2.22	3.49
Pisgah Community Bank	NC	$30	2.54	3.88
1st Commerce Bank	NV	$32	3.55	4.91
Northern Star Bank	MN	$33	4.71	5.97
First State Bank	VA	$38	4.92	6.18
First State Bank	OK	$39	6.41	7.73
Chipola Community Bank	FL	$43	5.53	6.79
Central Arizona Bank	AZ	$47	3.89	5.20
Community Bank of the Ozarks	MO	$53	4.86	6.13
Fort Lee Federal Savings Bank, FSB	NJ	$55	4.44	5.69
First Capital Bank	OK	$55	3.75	5.03
Carolina Federal Savings Bank	SC	$58	2.78	4.05
Alabama Trust Bank, NA	AL	$59	5.54	6.83
Sunrise Bank of Albuquerque	NM	$61	2.72	4.02
Winfield Community Bank	IL	$67	6.32	7.57
1st Regents Bank	MN	$68	3.79	5.09
Bank of Wausau	WI	$71	6.46	7.71
DuPage National Bank	IL	$72	3.23	4.51
Georgia Heritage Bank	GA	$73	5.20	6.45
Central Florida State Bank	FL	$79	2.41	3.69
Legacy State Bank	GA	$80	6.65	7.59
American Heartland Bank and Trust	IL	$83	4.44	5.76
1st Advantage Bank	MO	$84	6.23	7.49
Sunrise Bank	GA	$86	2.89	4.20
Waukegan Savings Bank	IL	$88	4.82	6.07
American Metro Bank	IL	$88	5.14	6.42
ProBank	FL	$90	6.60	7.86
First Carolina State Bank	NC	$90	3.00	4.31
Polk County Bank	IA	$92	1.82	3.09
American Patriot Bank	TN	$94	3.04	4.30
Royal Palm Bank of Florida	FL	$96	3.33	4.66
First Community Bank of the Ozarks	MO	$97	4.77	6.05
Charter National Bank & Trust	IL	$98	4.24	5.52
Covenant Bank & Trust	GA	$101	3.18	4.47
First Citizens Bank of Georgia	GA	$107	4.58	5.84
Sunrise Bank	FL	$109	6.08	7.39
Patriot Bank Minnesota	MN	$111	2.15	3.43
Parkway Bank	NC	$116	4.16	5.44
Rocky Mountain Bank & Trust	CO	$118	6.21	7.35
Flagship Bank Minnesota	MN	$121	6.46	7.73
Americana Community Bank	MN	$123	4.58	5.86
Premier Community Bank of the Emerald Coast	FL	$126	-1.34	-1.34
Palm Desert National Bank	CA	$126	4.36	5.66
Patterson Bank	GA	$128	2.99	4.25
Northside Bank	GA	$130	4.35	5.60
Heartland Bank	KS	$130	4.63	6.41
Liberty Federal Savings Bank	OK	$131	6.14	7.40
Georgia Trust Bank	GA	$131	3.60	4.86
Albina Community Bank	OR	$132	4.92	6.19
CenterBank of Jacksonville, NA	FL	$133	6.57	7.86
Anchor Commercial Bank	FL	$135	6.21	7.49
Heritage Bank of North Florida	FL	$138	3.52	4.81
First Sound Bank	WA	$146	2.95	4.23
Idaho Banking Company	ID	$148	3.52	4.82
Eagle Valley Bank, NA	WI	$152	6.02	7.28
Cornerstone Bank	NC	$152	3.71	5.00
Bank of Naples	FL	$153	4.53	5.89
Global Commerce Bank	GA	$155	4.74	6.03
HarVest Bank of Maryland	MD	$159	3.89	5.16
Security Exchange Bank	GA	$161	3.71	4.96
Farmers Bank of Lynchburg	TN	$162	4.53	5.83
Western National Bank	AZ	$163	1.19	2.37
Goldwater Bank, N.A.	AZ	$163	7.47	8.63
OptimumBank	FL	$167	3.50	4.77
Bank of the Eastern Shore	MD	$173	4.24	5.52
Decatur State Bank	AR	$174	5.35	6.58
Putnam State Bank	FL	$177	4.41	5.68
Village Bank	UT	$184	3.51	4.80
Millennium Bank, NA	VA	$185	4.93	6.19
Montgomery Bank & Trust	GA	$188	3.33	4.59
Farmers Exchange Bank	AL	$195	6.50	7.75
MBank	OR	$197	5.53	6.81
SCB Bank	IN	$200	4.14	5.40
Eastside Commercial Bank	GA	$205	6.39	7.67
Syringa Bank	ID	$207	6.00	7.26
First National Bank of Baldwin County	AL	$207	3.57	4.84
Second Federal Savings and Loan	IL	$209	4.69	5.94
State Central Bank	IA	$211	4.83	6.12
Community Shores Bank	MI	$219	5.19	6.46
Village Bank	MN	$220	5.63	6.94
Gulf Coast Community Bank	FL	$223	5.61	6.87
Farmers & Merchants Bank	GA	$231	5.88	7.17
First Colebrook Bank	NH	$233	0.95	1.05
Rocky Mountain Bank	WY	$238	4.91	6.22
First Commercial Bank	MN	$239	4.09	5.40
First Cherokee State Bank	GA	$244	3.35	4.61
Citizens Commerce National Bank	KY	$245	4.78	6.06
Heritage Bank of Florida	FL	$247	4.97	6.26
Bank of Commerce	FL	$255	3.63	7.27
United American Bank	CA	$265	4.48	5.77
First City Bank of Florida	FL	$270	3.46	4.73
Oxford Bank	MI	$273	5.92	7.14
BankEast	TN	$273	1.08	2.16
Central Bank of Georgia	GA	$276	4.62	5.90
Premier Bank	IL	$281	6.08	7.36
Capitol City Bank & Trust Company	GA	$298	4.80	6.06
First National Bank in Howell	MI	$299	4.31	5.60
First Community Bank of Southwest Florida	FL	$302	4.76	6.03
Peoples Bank & Trust	GA	$321	4.72	5.98
Sunrise Bank of Arizona	AZ	$326	2.62	3.92
Community Bank-Wheaton/Glen Ellyn	IL	$327	6.60	7.84
Premier Bank	FL	$328	5.69	6.99
Douglas County Bank	GA	$329	5.49	6.45
Affinity Bank	GA	$332	4.54	5.80
Grand Bank & Trust of Florida	FL	$335	6.42	7.70
Stoneham Savings Bank	MA	$337	6.51	7.74
Bank of Las Vegas	NV	$337	2.61	3.93
Advantage Bank	CO	$354	5.78	7.06
Fidelity Bank of Florida, NA	FL	$360	6.52	7.83
Bank of Bartlett	TN	$371	5.36	6.63
First United Bank	IL	$376	4.82	6.14
First Guaranty Bank and Trust Co.	FL	$378	2.12	3.42
Heritage Bank	GA	$381	6.35	7.61
Central Progressive Bank	LA	$383	0.82	1.64
HomeStar Bank and Financial Services	IL	$389	6.50	7.79
Bank of Elk River	MN	$389	5.94	7.23
Bank of Georgia	GA	$394	6.33	7.66
First South Bank	SC	$400	6.33	7.59
NewDominion Bank	NC	$404	6.20	7.48
Union National Bank	IL	$423	5.99	7.28
Home Savings of America	MN	$440	4.59	5.76
Union Bank	MO	$459	4.46	5.75
Inter Savings Bank, FSB	MN	$502	3.01	4.27
Bank of the Carolinas	NC	$505	6.68	7.94
Leaders Bank	IL	$507	2.46	4.92
Gwinnett Community Bank	GA	$515	4.64	5.90
Mountain National Bank	TN	$516	5.78	7.06
First State Bank	GA	$537	0.96	1.92
First Chatham Bank	GA	$541	5.88	7.15
Nova Bank	PA	$544	3.31	4.58
Horry County State Bank	SC	$545	4.35	5.64
Waccamaw Bank	NC	$582	1.00	2.00
Farmers & Merchants Bank	GA	$590	5.42	6.69
Community South Bank	TN	$592	4.98	6.24
First Central Savings Bank	NY	$596	5.85	7.12
Arthur State Bank	SC	$602	5.94	7.21
Mountain 1st Bank & Trust Company	NC	$727	6.28	7.54
Bank of Granite	NC	$766	4.13	5.42
Michigan Commerce Bank	MI	$823	2.80	4.12
Fidelity Bank	MI	$846	5.65	6.94
Heritage Bank	GA	$895	6.39	7.67
Liberty Bank, FSB	IA	$995	3.49	4.76
Mile High Banks	CO	$1,043	4.46	5.75
Tennessee Commerce Bank	TN	$1,185	1.17	2.34
First Mariner Bank	MD	$1,198	4.55	5.80
U.S. Century Bank	FL	$1,500	5.50	6.80
CommunityONE Bank, NA	NC	$1,639	-8.06	-8.06

- Saliq Khan -