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  • 24 Jan 2012 at 12:32 PM

That’s Interesting, Because Just The Other Day, Vikram Pandit Was Telling Someone That He’d Rather Hear Alec Baldwin’s Opinions On Airplane Etiquette Than Mike Mayo’s On How To Run A Bank

By Bess Levin

As those of you who keep up with the trials and travails of Wall Street’s celebrity analysts know, Citigroup has not always had the best relationships with these sensitive and highly-strung individuals. At one time or another, Meredith Whitney, Dick Bové, and Mike Mayo have all had their emotions toyed with and, particularly in the case of the men, have not responded well. Bové got drunk and sent out a mass email detailing the ways in which Citi defiled her and treated her like a cheap whore not deserving of respect and a couple years back, Mike Mayo went public with his own drama, wherein he and Vikram went from being super close in 2007 to the Citi CEO going radio-silent. FOR NO REASON. FOR TWO YEARS. Continue reading »

  • 15 Dec 2011 at 3:28 PM

Don’t Even Entertain The Thought Of Serving Jon Corzine With A Lawsuit While He’s On His Break

By Bess Levin

As you may have heard, today is Jon Corzine’s third day testifying in Washington about the whole MF Global thing. All morning and this afternoon have been devoted to questioning by the House Financial Services Committee, with a couple of the standard 15 minute recesses sprinkled in. In fact, there was one not too long ago. You know what Corzine uses his break time for?  Grabbing a snack. Shooting the breeze.  Taking a piss. Watching YouTube clips. Telling himself “You, got this, Jon,” in the bathroom mirror. You know what he doesn’t use it for? Being served with papers from some messenger boy on behalf of some jerk trying to sue him. Thinking about testing him on this? DO SO AT YOUR OWN RISK. Continue reading »

  • 18 Oct 2011 at 1:40 PM

Bank Of America Silences Mike Mayo

By Bess Levin

Is someone afraid of the Mayo Jar? Continue reading »

  • 08 Aug 2011 at 12:31 PM

David Tepper’s Lucky Brass Balls Not Feeling Bank Of America Anymore

By Bess Levin

Apparently the Appalossa chief has “completely eliminated his 17 million shares position” in BAC, as well as his entire Wells Fargo stake. He does still own Citi but Count Vikula appears to be on this ice (the position has been “sharply reduced”). [CNBC, earlier]

  • 30 Mar 2011 at 2:59 PM

Bonus Watch ’10: Bank of America Chief Exec

By Bess Levin

Second year CEO comp down 70 percent. Continue reading »

  • 10 Feb 2011 at 12:55 PM

JPMorgan Thinks Credit Suisse Did A Pretty Poor Job Capitalizing On The Financial Crisis

By Bess Levin

As you know, there are two types of financial services organizations- those that emerged from the financial crisis as winners (John Paulson comes to mind) and those that did not (a category that would include firms like Lehman Brothers, if you want to get really judgey). Where did Credit Suisse fall? JPMorgan has some thoughts. Continue reading »

  • 24 Jan 2011 at 6:00 PM

Goldman Sachs Wasn’t So Sure About This John Paulson Guy In 2006

By Bess Levin

Goldman Sachs investor Jim Clark was particularly irked by the disclosures surrounding Abacus. He had met with Paulson and Co founder John Paulson in August 2006 and been impressed by the manager’s plans to bet against the subprime-mortgage market. His Goldman brokers talked him out of investing with Paulson, describing him as a bit player, Clark says. Paulson generated a 590 percent return in his flagship credit fund in 2007 “When it came out that Paulson had the biggest payday in history, I got angry,” Clark says. [Bloomberg]