Category Archives: Bonuses & compensation

An apology over the proposed bonus cap

The proposed extension of the cap on bonuses to asset managers has exposed the true colours of MEPs in attacking bonuses: they just don’t like rich people. My latest column for Financial News I feel that an apology is in … Continue reading »

Category: Bonuses & compensation, Conflicts, Ethics, Finance, Regulation | Tags: , ,

Stephen Hester: the banker who works (almost) for free

If you think the chief executive of RBS gets paid too much, think again. He gets paid nothing like as much as the outraged headlines suggests… It is difficult to think of a better way of reigniting the moral outrage … Continue reading »

Category: Bonuses & compensation, Finance, Investment banking, Reporting & Disclosure | Tags: ,

Bonuses: in the line of fire again

The proposed cap by the European Parliament on bankers’ bonuses will have wide-ranging and unintended consequences A year ago, a proposal by the European Parliament to cap bankers’ bonuses at no more than one times fixed salary seemed like little … Continue reading »

Category: Bonuses & compensation, Hiring, Reporting & Disclosure, Uncategorized | Tags: ,

Full steam ahead at Goldman Sachs?

Is the decision by Goldman Sachs to increase compensation this year a) stupid b) stubbornly short-sighted or c) eminently sensible? Welcome back, Goldman Sachs. It may be too early to call a recovery just yet, but Goldman Sachs had plenty … Continue reading »

Category: Bonuses & compensation, Conflicts, Finance, Uncategorized | Tags:

The problem with investment banks – part 3: profitability

The investment banking industry has a problem. In fact it has at least three of them: a revenue problem, a cost problem, and a profitability problem. In the third of three articles to cheer you up after the summer break, … Continue reading »

Category: Bonuses & compensation, Investment banking, Regulation, Reporting & Disclosure, Sales & Trading, Uncategorized |

The problem with investment banks – part 2: costs

The investment banking industry has a problem. In fact it has at least three of them: a revenue problem, a cost problem, and a profitability problem. In the second of a series of three articles to cheer you up after … Continue reading »

Category: Bonuses & compensation, Management, Reporting & Disclosure, Uncategorized |

A fresh start at Barclays?

The remuneration package for the new chief executive of Barclays is significantly lower than that of his flashier predecessor Bob Diamond. Is that a sign of more changes ahead? One of the great mysteries when Bob Diamond took over as … Continue reading »

Category: Bonuses & compensation, Reporting & Disclosure, Uncategorized | Tags: , ,

How pay works at investment banks…

When it comes to pay and bonuses, it seems that everyone’s a winner at investment banks – except shareholders. In the rumbling debate over pay and bonuses at investment banks, the focus on the absolute numbers involved has shrouded what … Continue reading »

Category: Bonuses & compensation, Ethics, Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , ,

Wall Street has a problem with profits

With JP Morgan kicking off the second quarter earnings season for investment banks today, here is the third article in a series looking at the challenges facing investment banks. Whichever way you look at it, Wall Street has a problem. … Continue reading »

Category: Bonuses & compensation, Investment banking, Reporting & Disclosure |

I know nothing. I’m from Barclays…

The explanation at Barclays as to who knew what and when still doesn’t stack up – and none of the possible scenarios are very palatable (updated 16 July 2012) Nearly three weeks after US and UK regulators detonated a $450m … Continue reading »

Category: Bonuses & compensation, City, Conflicts, Ethics, Management, Regulation, Reporting & Disclosure | Tags: , , , , ,