Opening Bell: 03.18.10
Top Irish ex-banker arrested over alleged fraud (AP)
Sean Fitzpatrick, the former chairman of Anglo Irish Bank Corp., was arrested Thursday on suspicion of committing fraud after he hid more than euro70 million ($100 million) in personal loans from shareholders. An arrest of FitzPatrick — one of Ireland's most high-profile businessmen during the lost Celtic Tiger boom — had been expected ever since police raided the Anglo Irish headquarters in April 2009 shortly after the bank's emergency nationalization to prevent its collapse.
SEC Tried To Ease Curbs (WSJ)
In a ruling Monday, U.S. District Judge William H. Pauley III in New York rejected a proposed change to the legal settlement put in place to end abuses on Wall Street. The proposal would have allowed employees in investment-banking and research departments at Wall Street firms to "communicate with each other…outside of the presence" of lawyers or compliance-department officials responsible for policing employee conduct—an activity strictly prohibited by the settlement.
Mexico Tourism Drops as Drug Gangs, Economy Rain on Spring Breakers' Party (Bloomberg)
Mexico’s international tourism fell for the first time in a decade last year amid a weak economy and a swine-flu scare, bringing in $11.3 billion compared with $13.3 billion in 2008. In Acapulco, where Viacom Inc.’s MTV channel is hosting an event this week, 32 people were killed during the three days ended March 15.
Shelby: GOP Leaving 'Door Open' On Financial Reform (CNBC)
"I do leave the door open because conceptually Sen. Dodd and lot of Republicans agree on a lot of issues," said Shelby, who added that the were still fundamental differences on key details.
Wall Street Cop To Leave Beat (WSJ)
Susan Merrill is leaving FINRA, though she hasn't set a departure date and hasn't indicated whether she had another job lined up, people familiar with the matter said.
SEC Says Lehman Report Will Be 'Helpful' (Reuters)
If her team can break itself away from the porn long enough to read it.
Fancy A Fish With 6-Pack Abs? (Reuters)
Finally: "Scientists have created a transgenic trout with muscles your average body builder would die for. But this guy is more than just pretty - his creator says the buff fish could be big news for the commercial fish-farm industry."