In a wild day for US markets, bonds and stocks rally but banks crater

In a wild day for US markets, bonds and stocks rally but banks crater
(Image: Getty)
Bloomberg
By Jessica Menton and Matt TurnerUS authorities have raced over the past few days to put together a package of emergency measures that would snuff out fears about the health of the banking system.  Today, it had limited success, at best. US bonds rallied sharply and stock indexes recovered from their lows, but in the one sector that matters most right now – regional banks – losses piled up at a frantic clip. Shares of First Republic Bank sank 62%, Western Alliance Bancorp 47% and PacWest Bancorp 21%, tripping multiple trad...

More Finance

Life insurance market shrinks
Finance Risky Business

Life insurance market shrinks

Foreign firms dominate as affordability, tax and access barriers stymie growth.

Michael Neilson 18 Sep 2025
Craigs beefs up in Hawkes Bay, eyes further expansion
Finance

Craigs beefs up in Hawkes Bay, eyes further expansion

Craigs looks to further expansion as it confirms the Somerset Smith Partners deal.

Staff reporters 18 Sep 2025
Court funding miss ‘undermines market confidence’
Finance

Court funding miss ‘undermines market confidence’

Plenary and Infrastructure NZ wrote to ministers over PPP ‘disappointment’.

Oliver Lewis 17 Sep 2025
Phasing out $6b capital layer unlikely to dent banks’ ratings
Finance

Phasing out $6b capital layer unlikely to dent banks’ ratings

Banks’ credit ratings likely unmoved if Additional Tier 1 capital phased out. 

Andy Macdonald 17 Sep 2025