The Road Ahead: For Banks, Hitting the Loan Books

Banks broke out the brooms for a little housecleaning in the fourth-quarter earnings season, focusing on problem loans. But even with some of the cobwebs off the balance sheet, banks must still contend with a slowing economy that is muddying the sector's outlook.

Thursday's Coverage

Internet Companies Trudge Into the Fog

For Banks, Hitting the Loan Books

Previously

Getting a Handle on the Wireless-Handset Slowdown

Why This Earnings Season Has Been So Brutal

Earnings Burned Investors, but the Tech Fire Remains

With No Catalyst, Stocks Rumbling and Stumbling Through February

"The fourth quarter of each fiscal year tends to be somewhat of a 'cleanup' quarter for the bank group in general," said Putnam Lovell banks analyst Jennifer Thompson in a review of super-regional bank earnings released this week. "Many banks take the opportunity to up-front expenses, build reserves or aggressively charge off some questionable loans. This fourth quarter was no different." ...