Although many regional banks announced their earnings reports Thursday, nobody was expecting any surprises. But what emerged was enough to revive sentiment toward the mending sector’s exchange traded funds (ETFs).
The earnings expectations were that regional would report some slight improvements in the second quarter, which is pretty much what happened. But what’s really turning the sentiment toward them around now is muted loan growth in big banks, reports Shanthi Venkataraman for The Street. That, analysts say, is what investors are looking for now that the asset problem seems resolved at the moment. [What Financial Reform Means for ETFs.]
Joe Rauch for Associated Press reports that many regional banks still face substantial headwinds and margin is still under pressure. Overall, regional banks are setting aside less money to cover bad loans, and some are seeing loan losses ebb. Meanwhile, their funding costs are dropping as depositors grow willing to accept lower rates on their money. [ETF Strategies for Reform.]
For more stories about regional banks, visit our regional banks category.
- SPDR KBW Regional Bank (NYSEArca: KRE)
- iShares Dow Jones U.S. Regional Banks (NYSEArca: IAT)
Tisha Guerrero contributed to this article .
The opinions and forecasts expressed herein are solely those of Tom Lydon, and may not actually come to pass. Information on this site should not be used or construed as an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation for any product.