what are volcker rule backstop provisions 
the volcker rule is a set of financial regulations that separates the commercial and investment banking activities of a firm its purpose is to prevent conflicts of interest and unfair practices to the detriment of a bank s customers one provision of the rule is to prevent the backstopping of a securities issue by an underwriting bank if it will create a conflict of interest moreover a back stop would be prohibited if it would result directly or indirectly in a material exposure by the banking entity to a high risk asset or a high risk trading strategy or pose a threat to the safety and soundness of the banking entity or to the financial stability of the united states 1