Donald Trump has taken his first step to try to scale back financial services regulations.
The president signed an executive order to review the 2010 Dodd-Frank financial regulations, which some people on Wall Street say are overly-restrictive.
The law was brought in after the 2008-2009 financial crisis with the aim of avoiding another financial meltdown.
President Trump said earlier this week: “Dodd-Frank is a disaster.”
He added: “We’re going to be doing a big number on Dodd-Frank.”
Donald Trump made it a campaign pledge to repeal and replace the Dodd-Frank act, which also created the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).
This CFPB seeks to make sure banks, lenders, and other financial companies treat US consumers fairly.
Dodd-Frank, named after the Congressmen who campaigned for the legislation, was introduced to rein in banks’ risky practices by banks and other financial companies.
However, Trump administration officials have said Dodd-Frank did not achieve what it set out to do, and argue that is an example of government being overly-controlling.
News that a review was imminent sent banking shares higher on Wall Street and on the main stock markets in Europe. Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan Chase rose 4% and 3% respectively.
Gary Cohn, an adviser to Donald Trump and a former Goldman Sachs executive, told the Wall Street Journal: “The banks are going to be able to price products more efficiently and more effectively to consumers.”
The executive order directs the Treasury secretary to consult members of different regulatory agencies and the Financial Stability Oversight Council, and report back on potential changes.
