US Senate approves sweeping reforms of Wall Street

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The US Senate has passed a bill providing the most sweeping overhaul of financial regulations since the 1930s.

 

The Senate passed the bill by 59 votes to 39. It must still be merged with a version in the House.

 

The bill creates new ways to watch for financial risks and makes it easier to liquidate large failing firms.

 

President Obama said Americans would never again pay "for Wall Street's mistakes" adding that Wall Street had tried but failed to scupper the bill.

 

The bill will create a new watchdog agency and will seek to reform the complicated derivatives market.

 

It will increase restraints on larger banks and require proof from borrowers that they can pay back even the most basic of mortgages.

 

Democratic Party Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said: "To Wall Street it says 'no longer can you recklessly gamble away other people's money'."

 

The bill must still be reconciled with a version passed in the House of Representatives in December.

 

But Barney Frank, head of a key House panel, said that he thought Mr Obama might be able to sign a bill into law before the 4 July holiday.

 

The president earlier said the financial industry had repeatedly tried to block the regulatory reforms, using lobbyists, millions of dollars in advertising and special interest "loopholes".

Continue reading the main story

 

What does it all mean? In theory banks will be taking fewer risks - and they will certainly be less profitable

 

Robert Peston BBC business editor Read Robert's blog

 

"Today, I think it is fair to say these efforts have failed," he said, in a statement in the Rose Garden of the White House.

'Decades to come'

 

The bill's progress had been stalled by some Republican leaders who did succeed in making some amendments.

 

Republican Sen Richard Shelby, who opposed the legislation, said: "The decisions we've made will have an impact on the lives of Americans for decades to come.

 

"Judgment will not be rendered by self-congratulatory press releases, but, rather, by the marketplace. And the marketplace does not give credit for good intentions."

 

By a vote of 59 to 39, Mr Obama's bill was approved

 

On Wednesday Republicans, aided by two Democrats, had blocked a final Senate vote on the bill.

 

However, on Thursday a vote to end debate on the bill was passed by 60-40, the minimum needed to succeed.

 

There is widespread public support for tightening the regulation of Wall Street.