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Journal of Banking & Finance Vol. 26 No. 10 2002

Conflict of interest in commercial bank security underwritings: Canadian evidence

Gregory M. Hebb1; Donald R. Fraser2

1 Saint Mary's University · 2 Texas A&M University

Abstract

The recent repeal of the Glass–Steagall Act in the US has cleared the way for commercial banks to enter the securities underwriting business. Many of the concerns that resulted in the original passage of the Glass–Steagall Act, however, still exist. One of these is the possible conflict of interest a universal bank faces. This paper provides evidence on this issue from the experience of Canada following its removal of restrictions on chartered bank ownership of investment dealers. Both ex ante bond yield comparisons between commercial and investment bank underwritten issues and equity price reactions to bond issue announcements provide no evidence of a conflict of interest.

DOI
10.1016/s0378-4266(01)00176-5
Volume
26
Issue
10
Pages
1935-1949
Language
en
Sources
openalex crossref bibtex:phds-export.bib

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