Category Archives: Finance

The Ghost of Dubya

Posted on May 27, 2015 by Roger

Over the last week or so, we have seen why I hope the Republicans do not nominate Jeb Bush as the party’s presidential candidate.  Not because he is a bad guy, not because he has bad policies, and not because … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Finance, Policy, Politics | Leave a comment

Pensions and Other Things

Posted on May 13, 2015 by Roger

(I have to issue a geek alert at the beginning of this post. Many of the topics discussed below – pension accounting, Chinese demographics and UK electoral mathematics – have, shall we say, limited general appeal.  If you are squeamish … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Finance, Policy, Politics | 6 Comments

Greece (Again), American Sniper and Debt

Posted on February 8, 2015 by Roger

Greece: Lots of Losers and a Few Winners I have just finished reading an article that claims that some married women in Greece are turning to prostitution to make ends meet.  Turned away from the legal brothels, they are becoming … Continue reading →

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Switzerland and China

Posted on January 21, 2015 by Roger

By now everyone knows that last Thursday the Swiss did what the orderly and predictable Swiss are never supposed to do: they shocked the world.  Or at least the financial world.  They did this by suddenly refusing to defend the … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Finance | 1 Comment

Financialization

Posted on January 3, 2015 by Roger

I lead a sad life in many ways.  Which explains why I was up at 6am on January 1 flipping through the Forbes 400 list of the wealthiest Americans looking for the role of finance in the American economy.  Here … Continue reading →

Posted in Finance, Policy | 6 Comments

Countrywide Financial: The Gift that Keeps on Giving

Posted on August 23, 2014 by Roger

Another day, another multi-billion dollar settlement. Business as usual down in Charlotte, NC, home to Bank of America. I’ve lost track of all the settlements, but the New York Times has been kind enough to assemble them in a time … Continue reading →

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Jamie and the Whale

Posted on March 30, 2013 by Roger

You can’t keep a good man down. That is why I was so pleased to see the CEO of JP Morgan, Jamie Dimon (a.k.a., the “Tallest Midget in the Circus”), back in fine form at a recent analyst meeting in … Continue reading →

Posted in Finance, Policy | 2 Comments

Doping and Banking

Posted on February 27, 2013 by Roger

I have just finished reading The Secret Race, Inside the Hidden World of the Tour de France: Doping, Cover-Ups, and Winning at all Costs, by Tyler Hamilton and Daniel Coyle. For cycling fans, this is a must read, if only … Continue reading →

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The Lady Doth Protest Too Much, Methinks

Posted on October 22, 2012 by Roger

As a former employee of Goldman Sachs, I sometimes receive e-mails addressed to the “Goldman Sachs Alumni Network”.  The latest one is entitled “Media Interest in Greg Smith’s Book” and it contains  the “briefing toolkit” that has  been sent to … Continue reading →

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China (Part 1)

Posted on September 19, 2012 by Roger

“China was in a bubble and their bubble’s bursting”. That is not me talking, although I have been saying that for a long time.  That is Ray Dalio, founder of the world’s largest hedge fund, Bridgewater, as quoted in today’s … Continue reading →

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