From 1982 until the first half of 2007, global bank stocks led the secular long-term bull market in company profits. Long-term interest rates plunged from over 21% in 1981 to a low of just 3.5% in 2004. As a result, earnings at the majority of banks were literally stupendous, including huge dividend increases and massive shareholder buybacks.

Is the U.S. Fed done cutting rates? The commodities market seems to think so. Gold, platinum, palladium and silver all fell by the end of New York trading. Even oil was off its all-time highs though still above US$115.

The Fed may have already begun its role as Wall Street ’supercop.’

The Wall Street Journal reports that the Fed has sent agents into major Wall Street investment banks to makes sure of the banks’ financial wellbeing.

“We want to be sure that any lending we do to the investment banks will be done on an appropriately sound basis,” said Fed chief Ben Bernanke.

The Fed has is lending money to investment banks, even though it currently has no statutory regulatory power over them.