London has almost a third of the world's foreign-exchange dealing and over a third of over-the-counter derivatives business.

ECONOMIST: London pride

After intense negotiating, the Lincoln provision was watered down to allow interest rate and foreign exchange swaps dealing to remain inside a commercial bank.

FORBES: Dodd-Frank Bill Complete, Bankers React

Banks will still be able to trade swaps to hedge risk and trade interest rate or foreign exchange swaps, but dealing in riskier swaps transactions must still be moved into affiliates.

FORBES: As Senate Passes Financial Reform, Wall Street Braces For What Comes Next

In early 1933, the federal government (not the Federal Reserve) declared a bank holiday prohibiting banks from paying out gold or dealing in foreign exchange.

WSJ: Arthur B. Laffer: Taxes, Depression, and Our Current Troubles

The government has abolished jail terms for those caught dealing in foreign currency, offered extra incentives for private investment and brought the official exchange rate closer to the black-market one.

ECONOMIST: Syria