Without them, much of an economy's capital is held captive on balance sheets, tied up in inventory, working capital, and balance sheet reserves.

CNN: Christensen: We are living the capitalist's dilemma

China's bank regulators have been working to curb bank off-balance-sheet lending.

WSJ: China's Lending Spills Over Limits

But this demand will increase working capital needs and will likely reduce cash on the balance sheet, which reduces the ability to acquire more land.

FORBES: Five Stocks Set To Surge On A Housing Uptrend

The sector may be paying a price for its cleverness, and for all those complex products and-off balance-sheet vehicles that seemed to be working so well in the good years.

ECONOMIST: The money markets smell a wounded bank

The shift to agency model will have a negative impact on working capital as well, but Expedia feels that it has a strong balance sheet to support the same.

FORBES: Key Drivers To Expedia's $63 Valuation

America's government is working hard to revive markets for securitised debt, aware that banks lack the balance-sheet capacity to absorb all of those credit-card receivables and auto loans.

ECONOMIST: Investment banking: Wall Street's annus horribilis | The