If a group of six local investors is any indication, 2012 is shaping into a year for the bulls.

While the U.S. economy continues a pace of modest growth, local banks are holding steady or showing signs of improvement over previous quarters.

When the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act was passed in the summer of 2010, it promised to impose a series of new regulations on financial markets many years into the future. The majority of the bill was unwritten at the time, instead setting deadlines for various agencies to write various rules on a range of issues.

The Daily Transcript asked three banking leaders if they expect interest rates to rise at all this year, and if they see any implications or issues with the continued record-low rates. Here’s what they had to say:

The end of 2011 and the start of the new year has brought a flurry of economic reports suggesting, at long last, the elusive recovery may finally be at hand. Of course, there are still reasons to remain cautious.

City employees are now three for three in competitive bidding against private companies.

Speaking at Balboa Park’s Hall of Champions, Ron Roberts, Chair of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, reported good fiscal news, announced new plans for fire protection and public safety and a healthier San Diego County in his State of the County Address Wednesday night.

U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-El Cajon) announced Tuesday that he will host another community job fair, in partnership with the East and North County Career Centers, and the San Diego North and Poway Chambers of Commerce, on Feb. 24, from 9 a.m. to noon, at the Poway Community Center.

City of San Diego voters might have a choice between pension reform measures come June.

Chula Vista’s long-awaited waterfront development is expected to get final approval in the next three months, and possibly have Nashville-based Gaylord Entertainment head development of a hotel and convention center once again.

The construction week is slow at municipalities. None of the agencies have projects to update, and some have adjourned their meetings.

The San Diego Superior Court is closing all its courtrooms and business offices for two days in February.

In a closed session Monday, the San Diego City Council and Mayor Jerry Sanders will hear from outside counsel on a case that has challenged its campaign contribution restrictions.

The city of San Marcos announced Thursday it has received the environmental permits necessary to move forward with the San Marcos Creek District.

San Diego City Councilmember Carl DeMaio on Wednesday announced a plan to combat San Diego’s poor rating in civic engagement that would alter public employee union rules to allow for increased volunteerism.

Gov. Jerry Brown Thursday sent his preferred pension reform language to the state Legislature.

The two major San Diego mayoral candidates who didn't release campaign fundraising totals last week filed disclosures before Tuesday’s deadline.

The San Diego City Council voted on Monday to let voters decide on June 5 whether project labor agreements will be banned from city projects.

The Riverside County Board of Supervisors is expected to hear more public input before making a decision on the fate of the proposed Liberty Quarry near Temecula, which could supply a bulk of its aggregate to San Diego County.

In the last meeting of the San Diego Redevelopment Agency, the City Council on Tuesday voted to continue funding a list of projects in its self-appointed role as a successor agency.