Major U.S. banks masked risk levels: report
Major U.S. banks temporarily lowered their debt levels just before reporting in the past five quarters, making it appear their balance sheets were less risky, the Wall Street Journal said, citing data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
The paper said on Friday 18 banks, including Goldman Sachs Group
The banks had increased their debt in the middle of successive quarters, it said.
Citi, Bank of America, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase and Morgan Stanley were not immediately available for comment when contacted by Reuters outside regular U.S. business hours.
Excessive leverage by the banks was one of the causes that led to the global financial crisis in 2008.
Due to the credit crisis, banks have become more sensitive about showing high levels of debt and risk, worried their stocks and credit ratings could be punished, the Journal said.
Federal Reserve Bank of New York could not be immediately reached for comment by Reuters.
(Reporting by Sakthi Prasad in Bangalore; editing by Karen Foster)
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