Week in Review: A Defeat for Schapiro

EMI Music WEEK IN VERSE The Go-Gos remind the S.E.C. chairwoman that “it doesn't matter what they say”.

In an effort to curb money market funds, a Plan B is considered. | The New York Fed sold the last of its AIG bailout bonds. | Jesse Eisinger uncovered a TARP move itsn't helping taxpayers. | And Andrew Ross Sorkin said investors in health care are betting on President Obama. A look back on our reporting of the past week's highs and lows in finance.

“There's a lot that we know we don't know,” said Luis Aguilar of the Securities and Exchange Commission. And with that comment, the chairwoman of the S.E.C., Mary L. Schapiro, lost the crucial swing vote in her effort to make sweeping changes to the $2.6 trillion money market fund sector.

Regulators are are now huddling to discuss more modest alternatives. Peter Eavis and Nathaniel Popper explored the most likely next steps:

1. A group of top regulators, the so-called Financial Stability Oversight Council, could vote on designating money market funds as systemically important, which would pave the way for stricter regulations.
2. The Federal Reserve could limit the ability of banks to borrow from money market funds, which would reduce one of the riskiest holdings at many funds.
3. The Fed could also make banks that run money market funds hold capital to protect against losses in the funds.

Best Buy Reports a 91% Drop in Second-Quarter Profit | The weakness could give Richard M. Schulze more leverage in his takeover dealings with management and directors, Michael J. de la Merced reported. DealBook '

Best Buy Names a Hospitality Executive as Its Chief | Investors seemed unhappy with the selection of Hubert Joly as C.E.O., as the stock tumbled. DealBook '

Aetna Agrees to Buy Rival in Deal Worth $5.7 Billion | “It is the latest deal in an industry that has been spurred to seek consolidation in part because of the Obama administration's sweeping expansion of health care coverage,” Mr. de la Merced reported. DealBook '

Market Operator Is Said to Be Extending Its Global Reach | “The CME Group is planning to start a European derivatives exchange, in a significant expansion of the American market operator's global footprint,” Mr. de la Merced reported. DealBook '

Private Equity Firms Stimulate Earnings and Deals in Post-Revolution Egypt | “With increased purchasing power, the country notched record high sales in consumer goods,” Sara Hamdan reported. DealBook '

In an Effort to Curb Money Market Funds, a Plan B Is Considered | After the Securities and Exchange Commission called off an overhaul, other regulators may have to rely on more modest alternatives, Mr. Eavis and Mr. Popper reported. DealBook '

New York Fed Sells Last of Its A.I.G. Bailout Bonds | “In all, such sales generated $9.4 billion for taxpayers,” Mr. de la Merced reported. The Treasury Department still owns a roughly 53 percent stake. DealBook '

The Trade: TARP Move Is No Plus for Taxpayer | Jesse Eisinger of ProPublica says that Treasury Department isn't getting great bids on some investments in small banks to the detriment of taxpayers. DealBook '

Why should healthy banks or hedge fund investors get a gift so that the Obama administration can score some political points by raising the number of banks that have left the program?

Deal Professor: Profits in G.M.A.C. Bailout to Benefit Financiers, Not U.S. | Stephen M. Davidoff says that the fitful housing recovery would be a good situation for Ally Financial to buy back assets in bankruptcy. But it will be private investors who will profit. DealBook '

That's the problem with companies being bailed out. They're no longer as entrepreneurial or risk-taking as they might be, and instead have to balance gains against a need to pay back the government.

DealBook Column: Investors in Health Care Seem to Bet on Incumbent | Andrew Ross Sorkin says that there is an argument to be made that investors are favoring President Obama to win. DealBook '

At a time when so many in the business community appear to be supporting Mr. Romney, it is telling that some businessmen and investors expect a different result - and are wagering more than rhetoric; they are staking their wallet on it.

Examining the Ponzi Scheme Through the Mind of the Con Artist | In her new book, Tamar Frankel, a legal scholar, explores the psychology of the financial criminals and what makes them tick. Diana B. Henriques provides a Q. and A. with the author. DealBook '