The Initial Impact of the Financial Crisis on Financial Markets

Abstract This chapter discusses the initial impact of the global financial crisis, covering the seize-up of the inter-bank market; the run on Northern Rock in September 2007; the ‘regulatory failure’ in the UK and proposed changes; other UK financial institution failures, near failures, and rescues; and US financial market problems. It argues that throughout history, there have been episodes of over-eager lending, reckless investing and poor risk management, leading to financial failure and calls for help. Although the recent crisis was supposedly different because the securitization of debt gave the appearance of liquidity and sophisticated risk management, it also had the same common themes of greed and stupidity.