Big US banks' buybacks and dividends may not reflect financial health
The money comes from the preferred shares the banks are selling at a relatively high dividend
New York
BIG US banks, including JPMorgan Chase & Co and Citigroup Inc, are expected to win Federal Reserve backing later on Wednesday to buy back more shares and increase their dividends in the coming year, but the approvals may be as much about the institutions' financial engineering as any improvement in their health.
Much of the money for buybacks and higher dividends is coming from the banks issuing securities known as preferred shares. These shares are a type of equity that pays regular, relatively high dividends. To investors, they look a lot like bonds that pay interest. But for regulators, preferred shares serve as a cushion against any future losses, in part because they never have to be repaid.
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