The future of the financial sector

The crisis revealed that some business models of financial firms were seriously flawed. For a long time, financial firms earned comparatively low returns on assets but used high leverage to meet targets for returns on equity. They also took full advantage of cheap short-term funding. This strategy made their profits more volatile, especially during periods of market stress. Since the crisis, investors have become more discriminating in their treatment of financial firms, rewarding those with more prudent and resilient models. The priority of policymakers now is to incorporate in the regulatory framework the stronger standards being imposed by the marketplace. Higher-quality capital, lower leverage and more stable funding should buttress the sector's future resilience. This need not undermine medium-term profitability, particularly if restructuring continues and excess capacity is progressively eliminated. In addition, more sound business models should restrain funding costs, thus contributing to strong, stable and sustainable performance in the sector.