N.Y. Firm Hires Ex-Treasury Officer - 2004-01-07
Former Treasury Department official Peter R. Fisher, who assumed key roles in resolving a slew of high-profile financial crises during his years in government, has landed in the private sector as a managing director of BlackRock Inc.

Fisher, 47, left the Bush administration in October after two tumultuous years as Treasury undersecretary for domestic finance. During that time he helped manage the reopening of the stock and bond markets after the Sept. 11, 2001 and the financial disclosures required of government-sponsored enterprises such as mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
Read the full story at Washington Post

US CREDIT-Monitoring interest-rate volatility - 2004-01-07
Determing the outlook for financial companies this year, the story seems almost entirely rosy, especially for a banking sector still basking in the Federal Reserve's stated commitment to a relaxed monetary policy stance.

Yet a handful of Wall Street credit strategists have warned to steer clear of banks and financial firms primarily because of the threat the Fed poses in sparking another round of heavy interest-rate volatility that can wreak havoc on both brokerage houses and mortgage-heavy shops.
Read the full story at Reuters