Despite pushback from some regulators and Democrats in Congress, five federal regulatory agencies on Thursday finalized a roll back to the Volcker rule prohibition that will allow banks—in certain circumstances—to invest or sponsor hedge funds and private equity funds, also known as covered funds.

Aaron Nicodemus is the Editor-in-Chief of Compliance Week. He previously worked as a reporter for Bloomberg Law and as business editor at the Telegram & Gazette in Worcester, Mass. Email: aaron.nicodemus@complianceweek.com LinkedIn:...