• 02 Feb 2010 at 8:30 AM

Opening Bell: 02.02.10

Banks Gear Up For A Battle (WSJ)
Some analysts think banks are overreacting to Mr. Obama’s tough talk. “It doesn’t appear the proposal is designed to kill the capital markets,” said Brad Hintz, the senior analyst covering banks for Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. “It appears that what the proposal is designed to do is to reduce the risk-taking.”
Royal Bank of Scotland to pay top talent ‘cash bonuses’ (Telegraph)
RBS wrote to investors yesterday detailing the bank’s complicated pay deal under which bankers will receive their bonuses entirely in shares – but are able to convert a large portion into cash within just 12 weeks. In the letter RBS admits that the pay deal is “unlikely to please everyone” but pleads for understanding from shareholders that it is a “well-intentioned attempt to reach an acceptable position for most parties”.
Swiss Banks Find Achilles Heel of Secrecy Is Workers Selling Stolen Data (Bloomberg)
The call is coming from inside the house!
Volcker: Big banks’ risky trading should be curbed (Reuters)
“I am not so naive as to think that all potential conflicts can or should be expunged from banking or other businesses,” Volcker said in prepared remarks. “But neither am I so naive as to think that, even with the best efforts of boards and management, so-called Chinese walls can remain impermeable against the pressures to seek maximum profit and personal remuneration,” he said.
Madoff Ex-Right-Hand Man Forced to Forfeit House (CNBC)
Who wants a Bridgewater, New Jersey house filled with Ponzemories?
Obama Seeks 12 Percent Budget Increase for SEC (AP)
The request to Congress for nearly $1.3 billion for the SEC in the budget year starting Oct. 1 would boost total staff to 4,190 from the current 3,800 and would help them maybe catch some people like you know who.
AQR deal to bring big new trading firm to downtown Greenwich (GT)
AQR is in the process of signing a sublease to off-load an expensive piece of downtown Greenwich office space that they’ve been weighed down with for over a year.
Macquarie Bank adviser caught assessing Kerr’s assets [TA via BI]

Comments (22)

  1. Posted by guest | February 2, 2010 at 8:46 AM

    was that wrong? should I not have done that?

  2. Posted by guest | February 2, 2010 at 8:51 AM

    guys at DE shaw get caught looking at nudes during work all the time. not that big a deal.

  3. Posted by guest | February 2, 2010 at 8:55 AM

    It was from a customer. He said it was a bid list!

  4. Posted by guest | February 2, 2010 at 8:58 AM

    He’s toast. Trip to HR time …

  5. Posted by guest | February 2, 2010 at 8:59 AM

    He’s toast. Trip to HR time …

  6. Posted by guest | February 2, 2010 at 9:09 AM

    @4/5 do you think he’s toast?

  7. Posted by Squid Boy | February 2, 2010 at 9:11 AM

    @bess Since we’re currently in the news: I want to wrap my powerful squid like arm (singular) around your torso and drag you down to my lair in Davy Jones locker where I will do unspeakable things to you.

  8. Posted by guest | February 2, 2010 at 9:21 AM

    Can we get a post on Obama taxing the rich? Thanks,
    Loyal DB reader

  9. Posted by guest | February 2, 2010 at 9:25 AM

    @8 ooh, maybe a picture of BHO taxing the rich. Topless, maybe. That could be my new screen saver.

  10. Posted by guest | February 2, 2010 at 9:27 AM

    RBS Sucks

  11. Posted by Investorcluzo | February 2, 2010 at 9:35 AM

    that guy is definitely toast. in this market forget about it. his only saving grace is that the place is run by aussie’s – they may have a more benevolent soul…what an a$$hat!

  12. Posted by guest | February 2, 2010 at 9:46 AM

    I’m shocked that there is no mention of Sig Hansen, Captain of the Cornelia Marie, suffering a stroke.
    It’s been a while since an installment of the “Deadliest MBAs” – hopefully we can get one today in tribute to Sig.

  13. Posted by Motive Examiner | February 2, 2010 at 9:47 AM

    Could we call the increase at SEC a “Stimulus” for on-line porn? Just askin…

  14. Posted by guest | February 2, 2010 at 9:48 AM

    I only look at Bess’s topless photo galleries with the door shut during lunch.

  15. Posted by guest | February 2, 2010 at 10:09 AM

    @7 sounds kinky. I like it.
    -Bess

  16. Posted by ExtraordinaryPopularDelusions | February 2, 2010 at 10:36 AM

    fwiw that is not random internet browsing… those are local photos, either on a CD or his hard drive.
    in other words, he’s fapped to those pictures before because they’re his *favorites*

  17. Posted by guest | February 2, 2010 at 11:26 AM

    It was Cap’n Phil Harris who had the stroke.

  18. Posted by guest | February 2, 2010 at 11:44 AM

    How do you manage big risk if you can’t manage the small risk of a nude image showing up on TV during a live broadcast??
    Dumbass employee and bosses.

  19. Posted by guest | February 2, 2010 at 11:47 AM

    Miranda Kerr is worth it.

  20. Posted by guest | February 2, 2010 at 11:56 AM

    Ah, now I get it. You trade an index or a bond and you are now considered a banker. That explains why everyone hates bankers right now. Bunch of wankers getting busted watching soft porn and then being clueless enough to turn around to face a camera.
    Get out of here, the lot of you. You are not worthy to be considered a banker.

  21. Posted by Anal_yst | February 2, 2010 at 12:03 PM

    As someone pointed out on the BI, its a photo shoot from GQ (which I saw the other day), its not that bad (however yes, incredibly retarded to NOT look like you’re doing when there’s a camera on the floor).

  22. Posted by Big Brother | February 2, 2010 at 5:07 PM

    Thats a fixed camera they have there. You never know when someone is watching

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