Friday afternoon banking update

Let's see, it's Friday afternoon. What's the banking world up to? No commercial bank failures yet, though it's still early. Oh, here's some news:
So much for Hank Paulson's Bazooka vs. Peashooter theory on how to save the mortgage giants. The original WSJ report is available in the public section of their website.

Some highlights:

Precise details of Treasury's plan couldn't be learned. The plan is expected to involve a creative use of Treasury's authority to intervene in the two companies, which it won earlier this year, and could involve a capital injection into the beleaguered giants.

The plan also includes a management shakeup at both companies, according to one person familiar with the plans. Daniel H. Mudd, chief executive of Fannie Mae, and Richard Syron, his counterpart at Freddie Mac, are expected to step down from their posts.
...
On Friday afternoon, Messrs. Syron and Mudd were summoned to a meeting at the offices of the agency. Also attending were Mr. Bernanke and Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson.

The meetings Friday were in part aimed at getting Messrs. Mudd and Syron to agree to the plan, though their approval was not necessary, these people said.

Mr. Mudd arrived for the meeting at 2:50 p.m., flanked by the company's general counsel, Beth Wilkinson, and Rodgin Cohen of Sullivan & Cromwell, one of the country's top banking lawyers. A few minutes later, Mr. Bernanke followed with security escorts.

"We are making progress on our work," said Treasury spokeswoman Jennifer Zuccarelli, who declined to comment further. Spokesmen for Fannie and Freddie declined to comment on the expected Treasury moves.

Look's like he's going to have to use the Bazooka.