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We need a global summit to get toxic assets out of the system

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If overnight interest rates do not fall as a result of the Fed's guarantee for commercial paper and related efforts to create incentives for banks to lend, the leaders of world's central banks and treasury departments may have to try a more creative approach to end the financial crisis: a global distressed asset summit.

As economist David H. Wang told BloggingStocks Wednesday, the major economies may have to hold a global 'out & price' summit to get distressed and bad assets -- the source of so many of the defaults and resultant fear among banks -- out of the financial system.

The problem, Wang said, is not just that the subprime and Alt-A mortgage backed securities represent distressed and bad debt, it's that "banks and other financial institutions can't determine the value or price of many of these securities."

Unknowns about toxic assets driving fear

Wang believes that "lack of certainty about price is the biggest factor in banks' unwillingness to lend."

"Banks can't determine the price of these assets, it represents a big uncertainty, therefore because they're uncertain regarding what their competitor banks hold, they aren't lending, and they're charging higher rates for short-term loans," Wang said. "Both are restricting commerce and will continue to slow economies all over the world if the problem is not addressed."

Here's how the 'out and price' summit would work: Nations, via law or emergency powers, would force all holders of mortgage backed securities to surrender these assets, in exchange for a temporary, preliminary price, Wang said. Central banks of these nations would then meet to establish an international body to systematically price these assets, with the former asset owners' compensation increased or decreased, based on fair market value, once that is determined.

"The goal and effect would be to get these toxic assets out of system - - to cleanse the financial system - - and I believe this will substantially reduce the uncertainty and fear in the system, which will promote a restoration of lending and lower overnight interest rates," Wang said. "Others may argue it's not the best way to arrive at price discovery for these assets, but I would argue the benefits far exceed the costs, given the risk these toxic assets pose to the global financial system."

"As I said earlier, traditional tools will not be sufficient to end this crisis. We need to innovate to solve it," Wang said.

Financial System / Economic Analysis: Once considered a stretch, establishing a global body to remove and price toxic assets may have to be considered, if the financial crisis continues to worsen. Fear is at the core of banks' unwillingness to lend - - no one trusts what the other bank holds - - and the inability to both identify and determine the price of toxic assets is at the core of that fear. An 'out and price' summit and accompanying international pricing institution is something leaders of the world's major economies have to consider.

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Last updated: November 25, 2009: 08:00 AM

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