Tag Archives: Morgan Stanley

A tall order in FICC at Morgan Stanley

Ambition should be applauded, but only so long as it stays on the right side of achievable. James Gorman must be getting tired of being asked about his fixed income business. At this week’s shareholder meeting, the chairman and chief … Continue reading »

Category: Sales & Trading, Uncategorized | Tags: , ,

All change at the top: the great investment banking reshuffle (again)

As Rich Ricci leaves Barclays to spend more time with his racehorses, investment banks are clearing out an entire stable of top management A year ago I wrote that there had rarely, if ever, been so many departures, at such … Continue reading »

Category: Investment banking, Management | Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Proprietary trading is dead. Long live proprietary trading?

Whatever else you might say about investment banks, please don’t mention the “p” word. Not “p” for pay, but “p” for proprietary trading. My latest column for Financial News. As the debate over the future of the “p” word rumbles … Continue reading »

Category: Conflicts, Ethics, Sales & Trading | 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: , , , , ,

Transparency and the House(s) of Morgan

Transparency is Wall Street’s version of Kryptonite. If you take away the informational advantage that investment banks have over their clients and shareholders, then you take away their already diminished ability to print money. My latest column for Financial News. … Continue reading »

Category: Conflicts, Investment banking, IPOs, Regulation, Reporting & Disclosure | Tags: ,

Investment banks get their house in order

First quarter results reveal impact of regulatory pressure on banks to raise RWAs and equity – with a numbing effect on profitability. My latest column for Financial News A good spring clean is always cathartic. Nowhere more so than at … Continue reading »

Category: Investment banking, Regulation, Reporting & Disclosure | Tags: , , , , , , ,

Hubris and investment banking: a terrible combination

The past few months have seen an unwelcome outbreak of hubris across the investment banking industry. Perhaps a dose of humility might be in order? My latest column for Financial News. It’s only hubris if you fail, said Julius Caesar. … Continue reading »

Category: Bonuses & compensation, Investment banking | Tags: , , , ,

The resurrection of Morgan Stanley?

In a buoyant first quarter Morgan Stanley’s institutional securities division posted the best performance of the big US investment banks Welcome back, Morgan Stanley. In a buoyant first quarter for US investment banks, perhaps the biggest surprise, along with the … Continue reading »

Category: Investment banking, Reporting & Disclosure, Sales & Trading, Uncategorized | Tags: , , , ,

Old bankers never die… they simply come back for more

My latest column for Financial News on how the blasts from the past make for slightly uncomfortable reading. There has been a distinct blast from the past in recent weeks, with many of the names that we haven’t heard from … Continue reading »

Category: Hiring | Tags: , , , , , , , , ,