Tag Archives: investment banking

Time for a banker to go to gaol?

Posted on June 15, 2014 by Geoff O'Reilly

BNP Paribas, France’s biggest bank, is in trouble with the law in the US. It is apparently guilty of violating US financial sanctions against Iran and others. The US Department of Justice (DOJ) suggested the bank plead guilty and pay a $16 billion … Continue reading →

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Is the stock market rigged?

Posted on April 11, 2014 by Geoff O'Reilly

Michael Lewis thinks so. On 30th March he went on CBS’ 60 Minutes in the US to promote his latest book “Flash Boys” an expose of the the dark world of High Frequency Trading (HFT). There he asserted “the US … Continue reading →

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But I can’t afford it …

Posted on January 17, 2014 by Geoff O'Reilly

We’ve all said it. “That would be great, but I can’t afford it.” That house, that fancy car, that new dress, that exotic holiday, that night out … BUT, in recent decades … … The presence of credit cards in … Continue reading →

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Beer goggles and holes

Posted on January 15, 2014 by Geoff O'Reilly

Is this the typical (central) bankers view of the mountain of debt in the world? … of the effect of the mountain of newly printed money? … of Wall Street reaching for the sky?   “Continuing large-scale asset purchases risks … Continue reading →

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Good debt, bad debt and unreal debt

Posted on January 14, 2014 by Geoff O'Reilly

Governments, corporations and people borrow to pay for something they need now, but don’t have enough cash/savings to pay for now. If that something is a hard economic asset (say, a power station, or a house), part of the future … Continue reading →

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Swiss fat cats

Posted on November 24, 2013 by Geoff O'Reilly

I have commented before about the interesting democratic process in Switzerland. If 100,000 people get activated about a single issue they can petition for a country wide referendum. This is a way better concept that having politicians argue over ridiculous … Continue reading →

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Freelance work

Posted on November 20, 2013 by Geoff O'Reilly

Last week saw the listing on the ASX of Freelancer Ltd It caused some excitement in the business media because the 50 cents shares shot up to $2.60 when the shares first listed last Friday before settling back to $1.60 … Continue reading →

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Banks. Don’t you just love ’em?

Posted on November 17, 2013 by Geoff O'Reilly

Before 2008 there were five enormous investment banks on Wall Street. These were not banks with tellers and branches looking after ordinary people and businesses. These were the deal makers. As the financial crisis unfolded, first Bears Sterns got into … Continue reading →

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