finance

Rajaratnam Pal Takes a Plea

cityfile · 01/07/10 01:32PM

Anil Kumar, the former McKinsey & Co. director accused of feeding info to hedge fund founder and alleged crook Raj Rajaratnam, has pleaded guilty to securities fraud and conspiracy and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors. [NYT]

It's Business as Usual at Citigroup

cityfile · 01/06/10 01:49PM

It's a good thing Citigroup repaid that $20 billion it owed the U.S. government on December 14. If it hadn't, some people might be a tad ticked off to hear that on December 30, the bank paid John Havens, Citi's investment banking chief, $9 million for his stellar work in 2008, making him the broken bank's highest-paid employee for the year. [WSJ]

Raj Rajaratnam, Revised

cityfile · 01/06/10 08:50AM

Raj Rajaratnam, the hedge fund billionaire (and dwarf enthusiast) accused of insider trading, has even more legal trouble on his hands today. Prosecutors say they plan to tack on another bunch of charges to their original indictment, a move that could increase Rajaratnam's prison sentence to 15 years (or more) if he's ultimately convicted. Even more concerning: The Wall Street Journal unveiled a new illustration (or "hedcut") of Raj in the paper today, and his smile and casual, open-collared look has been replaced with one that makes him look much more defendant-y. That can't be a good sign, can it? [NYT, Dealbreaker, previously]

The Wild Side of Hon. Jed S. Rakoff

cityfile · 01/05/10 02:33PM

Manhattan federal judge Jed Rakoff has been nicknamed "Judge Dread" on Wall Street for his efforts to hold banks and financial execs accountable for their actions. (He's currently overseeing the case against Bank of America, which is accused of misleading investors regarding bonus payouts, and he's also presiding over the trial of Raj Rajaratnam, the hedgie charged with insider trading.) So how does Rakoff blow off steam when he isn't taking on big banks and crooked execs? He engages in a little ballroom dancing, that's what. [BusinessInsider]

America's Most Frugal Billionaire

cityfile · 01/05/10 12:49PM

Hedge fund manager David Tepper is a rare breed. Not only did he earn $2.5 billion in 2009 while many of his peers just struggled to keep their heads above water, he still lives in the same New Jersey home he and his wife have occupied since 1990, he's yet to buy a vacation home, and he still sends his kids to public school. [BN]

New Year's Mini-Bubble Already Forming

Hamilton Nolan · 01/04/10 11:22AM

The Dow Jones is already up nearly 150 points this morning, as everyone who made a resolution to invest for the new year piles their money into the market. Savvy finance sharks will take advantage of this onrush of dumb money, sending the market plummeting downward in the near future. And then there's that whole recession thing, which is still not over. So basically, sell now.

Raj Rajaratnam, 'Jackass' of Wall Street

cityfile · 12/29/09 11:29AM

Raj Rajaratnam, the hedge fund billionaire who stands accused of masterminding a massive insider trading ring, was incredibly competitive and a ruthless boss. Of course you sort of have to be if you're planning to claw your way up to the top of the hedge fund pyramid. But it turns out he was a pretty wacky boss, too, as today's Wall Street Journal illustrates.

Weak Security at America's Weakest Bank

cityfile · 12/22/09 01:52PM

Computer hackers can be so cruel. Not only did a "Russian cyber gang" decide to mount an attack on one of America's banks, they picked the nation's most feeble financial institution, too. According to the Journal, hackers likely used a $40 software program to gain access to Citibank accounts and make off with "tens of millions of dollars," although in typical Citi fashion, for now the bank is pretending the computer attack never happened. [WSJ]

John Mack Sets an Example

cityfile · 12/18/09 10:43AM

Credit where credit's due: Not every Wall Street chieftain is planning to take home home an eight-figure bonus at the end of the year. Outgoing Morgan Stanley CEO John Mack announced today that he is foregoing a bonus in 2009 for the third year in a row. "That makes him the first of the major banking chiefs to do so, at a time when many outside the industry are criticizing the probable return of outsized bonuses as these firms return to profitability." [NYT]

Goldman Gathers a Crowd

cityfile · 12/17/09 12:07PM

There was a protest outside Goldman Sachs this morning! The turnout wasn't great, but the handful of people who did turn out came armed with a special song. (It's to the tune of "Jingle Bells.") A video clip of the action is below.

Even Dead Banks Pay Pretty Nicely

cityfile · 12/17/09 10:14AM

Lehman Brothers may have gone bankrupt 15 months ago, but the liquidating firm is still paying out $50 million in year-end bonuses to some 230 employees. [Bloomberg, WSJ]

Citigroup Catches Another Break

cityfile · 12/16/09 08:36AM

Citigroup chairman Dick Parsons couldn't be bothered to go to the White House on Monday to meet the president—he has an extremely active social life, let's not forget!—but the bank continues to enjoy special treatment in Washington, you'll be pleased to hear. On Friday afternoon, the IRS granted a special exemption that will allow Citi to hold on to a $38 billion tax benefit. [NYT]

Rajaratnam Indicted

cityfile · 12/15/09 03:03PM

Ever since Raj Rajaratnam was arrested in October for allegedly operating a vast insider trading ring, lawyers for the hedge fund founder have been busy pointing out flaws in the government's case. Now they'll get to see how it plays with a jury. A federal grand jury formally charged Rajaratnam with five counts of conspiracy and six counts of securities fraud this afternoon. [BN]

Washout in Washington

cityfile · 12/14/09 12:22PM

Change isn't easy. Just ask Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein and Morgan Stanley chief John Mack, both of whom were unable to personally attend a meeting with the president in Washington today after their US Airways flights were delayed because of "fog."

Citigroup Frees Itself

cityfile · 12/14/09 08:28AM

Last week, Bank of America paid back the $45 billion it borrowed from the U.S. government last year. That left Citigroup the only big bank still under the watchful eye of Washington, and the only one still required to comply with limits on executive compensation. Citi CEO Vikram Pandit wasn't going to let that situation continue, was he? No, he was not. Following a "frenzied effort" over the past few days, Citigroup announced this morning that it will be paying back the $20 billion it received in bailout funds:

Financial Reform Bill Passes the House

cityfile · 12/11/09 01:04PM

The House of Representatives passed legislation today designed to tighten regulations on Wall Street and prevent another financial crisis from unfolding in the future.

Goldman Caves!

cityfile · 12/10/09 10:36AM

Goldman Sachs is giving in, believe it or not. The bank announced this morning that it plans to change up the way it compensates its top 30 execs this year, as the fury over outsized pay packages continues to grow. Goldman says it will now pay out the bonuses in the form of restricted stock, a move that will likely gratify Goldman's critics and also terrify high-end real estate brokers and Porsche salesmen in the Hamptons. [NYT]