A new study of US banks by DICK BOVE, chief financial strategist at ODEON CAPITAL GROUP, identified some ten percent as "challenged" among the selected group of banks, each with assets of over $10 billion. "The rapid shift from a recessionary environment to one heavily influenced by inflation has created serious challenges for many banks, " according to BOVE. "Banks are attempting to adjust to these changes but, in some cases, structural issues at some of these institutitons inhibit their ability to do so." The CONVERSATION also takes another look at the events that triggered the collapse of Silicon Valley and two other banks. BOVE lashes out at bank managers for the latest crisis from their "greed to maximise profits" to their risk management. MAT VAN ALSTYNE, ODEON co-founder and managing partner, points the blame in part at the Dodd-Frank Act enacted after the global financial crisis to (ironically) curb risk. "These are tense times in the financial markets," BOVE says.

Elsewhere, the CONVERSATION looks at the latest dip in the US unemployment rate. While this decline is clearly a positive, a gathering storm may finally be imminent. VAN ALSTYNE says the inverted yield curve is signalling a recession of dramatic scale which could impact Fed decision making. Still, there is some good news in the US manufacturing sector, with signs of green shoots. Joining the CONVERSATION is our host, JOHN AIDAN BYRNE.

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