M&I Flashcards

Question

**China's Big Fish Reel in Small Fry**

Answer 1

* **Tencent Holding's,** Chin's largest internet company, **will pay $448m for 36.5% of ** **Sogou,** a search engine whose majority shareholder is **Sohu.com**. * Tencent dominates online games and operates the widely popular **QQ and Wechat messaging services.** * **Baidu is the top Chinese search engine with 69% of search traffic. ** * **Alibaba Group Holding**, the e-commerce giant, recently formed an alliance with **Sina**, who owns Twitter like **Weibo.** * This deal presents a **headache for Qihoo 360 Technology**, 15% of search, who was in talks to acquire **Sohu.**

Answer 2

1. **This recovery leaves a lot to be desired**: A lot of this recovery has come due to massive government and the Federal Reserve's efforts to spur demand. 2. **The new boom is a rehash of the old one:** Most of the growth being seen is in the same areas that swelled and burst in Bubble 1.0-**Florida, Phoenix, Las Vegas, California's Central Valley.** In battle scarred Detroit, prices were up 30% from a year earlier, to just **$13,355**. 3. **Big Businesses are doing a lot of the buying:** Sales volume and prices are being pushed up by institutional investors such as **Blackrock's Invitation Homes which has ammassed 30,000 homes in 2 years.** 4. **investing in housing is nothing like buying a house**: Most homebuyers make 0% profit when they sell after factoring in interest, maintenance, taxes, and improvements. 5. **Interest rates are on the rise**

Answer 3

* Spain's **Inditex, parent of Zara,** has been a favorite for fashion investors. * Trades **25** P/E * Continues to achieve **solid growth, stands to benefit form online** **sales (Zara's first online store opened in 2010), and there is belief they can build that presence.** * Inditex's **brand strength helps maintain pricing**, doesn't have to discount as much as troubled **H&M Hennes & Mauritz.** *

Answer 4

**Robert Citrone** is an emerging-markets specialist, founder of hedge-fund **Discovery Capital Management**, which manages more than $12 billion, is up about 15% this year. **Average annual return of 17% since its 1999 inception. ** **Considered a "macro" manager - one who makes speculative bets on economic trends in emerging markets and elsewhere.** Low profile on social media, and prefers to listen than dominate conversation. Formerly worked at **Tiger Management** under Julian Robertson. Bought a minority share in the **Pittsburgh Steelers in 2012.**

Answer 5

**Darden Restaurants Inc, ** which owns popular chains **Red Lobster, Olive Garden, and Longhorn Steakhouse** and others, is trading at **16.1 P/E,** higher than its competitors **DineEquity and Brinker International** though lower than **Cheesecake Factory.** **Darden's** stock historically has done poorly on **earnings day - when they disclose their quarterly performance to the public.** On average, it's stock has shed **1.2% on all earnings days combined.**

Answer 6

* **J.P. Morgan Chase** has agreed to pay **$920 m to settle with SEC ($200m), Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) ($300m) , the Federal Reserve ($200m), and the U.K's Financial Conduct Authority ($222m) over the london 'whale' trading blunder.** * Will alos pay **$80m for deceptive marketing practices** related to **identity-theft protection** for **credit-card customers.** * SEC continues a **civil probe** into **individual employees of J.P. Morgan who may have been negligent in not fulfilling their duties.** * **Rare move: J.P. Morgan admitted wrongdoing in settlement.**

Answer 7

* **JPMC** settled charges that it made **errors in hundreds of thousands of debt-collection lawsuits and leading more than 2m credit-card customers to buy services they didn't want.** * **Refunded $309m to 2.1m credit-card customers and will pay $80m in fines.** * Settlement requires that **JPMC must notify consumers that their dect is being sold to a third party and verify the information is accurate.**

Answer 8

* **Societe Generale SA** and **Credit Agricole** are exploring ways to end thier partnership in brokerage-firm **New-edge** and asset-management firm **Amundi, as they refocus their business on core activities.** * CA would trade **50% stake in Newedge for 15% stake in** **Amundi.** * **Newedge was formed in 2008** from **SG's Fimat unit** and **CA's Calyon Financial and ranks as the 3rd largest futures brokerage in U.S.** * **Amundi** was set up in 2010 as the two pooled resources to gain a foothold in lucrative **global-asset management business.** CA owns 75% while SG has 25% stake. * Asset management more attractive than brokerage. **Amundi's** **2012 Net Profit - $658.1m** compared to **Newedge's $14m.** *

Answer 9

* **A day after stocks surged to new highs on the Fed's decision to continue stimulus, some investors were having second thoughts.** * Slow earnings growth have stocks in the **S&P500** trading at **14.6 P/E**, **greater than 12.6 in 2012.** * **In two weeks since Sept 4, Inflows into ETF's, often used by faster-moving investors,** have outpaced **mutual fund inflows.** A sign that investors aren't ready **to go long** on the market just yet.

Answer 10

* Fed's decision put **Sept on pace to be most active month for emerging market debt issuance since May.** * **Bond prices,** hit hard in recent months from tapering fears, rallied Wednesday when the news broke. * The threat of rising interest rates, **which decreases the prices of outstanding bonds,** is gone for now. * **Armenia, former Soviet State, issued $750m, 7yr bond at a yield of 6.25%--it's first dollar bond.** * Some other issuers include **Colombia, ** **Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Economico e Social, Borets** * **Nissan MOtor, Reinsurance Group of America and Svenska Handelsbanken**

Answer 11

* A computer glitch at the **New York Fed,** which conducts auctions for the Treasury, **blocked Goldman Sachs** order for **3-month T-bills** and automatically allocated them for more **6-month T-bills.** * This raises investor anxieties over losing money due to balky computers. * **This caused Goldman to get more than $8.75****b of the $25b sold of 6month T-bills exceeding the 35% limit that any one bidder can buy in a single aucition.** (Yields in 3month were higher, and 6month were lower than expected.) * **Money-market mutual funds, banks, and corporate treasurers** are major buyers of Treasur bills. * **Treasury Automated Auction Processing System (TAPPS).**

Answer 12

* Five years after **Lehman Brothers** filed for bankruptcy and the financial crisis began, 450 alumni gathered at **BB King Blues Club & Grill** near Times Square for a reunion.

Answer 13

* The French Arm of **Air France-KLM** will report **operating losses for 6th year straight.** * Problems include **fat wage bill, jet fuel up 12%, increased capacity.** * **Potential Solutions:** It's **cargo business** has too much capacity, remove a jet out of service to reduce costs. * **Short and medium haul operations** in Europe...cut out some legacy Air France routes and replace with low-cost carrier **Transavia**.

Answer 14

* Chocolate prices are expected to hit a record $12.25 per kg. this year. * The **$5.4b cocoa-futures** market is experiencing a **feeding frenzy** fueled by demand for **dark** **chocolate, which requires more cocoa beans to produce and is healthier than milk chocolate**. * Other causes: **shortage of cocoa supplies due to dry weather expected in West Africa, where 70% of cocoa beans are produced.** * **Switzerland - per-capita choc cons. among world's highest.** * **Barry Callebaut AG** can legally advertise that comsumption of its products **help maintain healthy blood circulation.**

Answer 15

* **Home building** stocks **KB Home** and **Lennar** lept after the Fed confirmed no tapering plans. * **Lower int rates, rising home prices, and compelling demographics.** * Though these seem to have been priced in **before the announcement**, **not a single home builder has outperformed the broad market this year.** * Two **losers** so far: **Pulte** and **Hovnanian**. * An investment vehichle some choose to gain sector exposure is the **SPDR Homebuilders Exchange Traded Fund.** (outperformed all large home-builder stocks).

Answer 16

* Investors realized that the Fed still plans to reduce its stimulus, perhaps startring late next month. * The concern is that markets could become unsettled since investors are uncertain what to expect from the Fed. * 3 Events loom before the Fed's next policy meeting scheduled for **Oct 29 and 30.** 1. **September job-creation numbers are due Oct. 4** 2. **Looming fight between Congress and the president over the federal debt limit.** 3. **Stock prices may have gotten ahead of themselves after all this Fed stimulus.**

Answer 17

* **ICAP** is expected to pay less than **$100m to resolve a civil probe** into the brokerage firm's alleged involvement in int-rate manipulation. * **Barclays, UBS, and RBS** have agreed to pay a total of about **$2.5b** in settlements since last summer. * ICAP settled with **CFTC and UK's FCA.** * **ICAP,** a london-based interdealer brokerage, acts as a go-between for banks loking to buy or sell products that **generally aren't heavily traded on public exchanges.** * **UK authorities in June Charged former UBS and Citigroup trader Tom Hayes with 8 counts of conspiring to defraud by manipulating rates.**

Answer 18

* **Power Plants account for 90% of U.S. coal demand.** * **Cheap shale** **caused 21% decline in coal demand from 2007-2012.** * Companies adapt through **acquisitions and exports.** * Major miners **Arch Coal, Alpha Natural Resources, Peabody Energy, and Walter Energy** announced deals to buy **miners of metallurgical coal.** * Metallurgical coal, or **coking****, coal**is used in the production of**steel and isn't tied to power market.** * **China has been a huge consumer of coke** **but demand is flattening and** **a weaking Australian dollar (more competitve)** are presenting additional problems to U.S. coal-mining stocks.

Answer 19

* New Chinese rules that **limit exposure of wealth-management products to certain risky investments** **(trusts)** are shaking up China's **shadow banking sector.** * **Banks sometimes guarantee the client's principle in a wealth-management account (higher-interest rate than tradiitonal)**, but when they **don't, ** **the products doesn't show up on the balance sheet.** * This allowed banks to **t**ake risks with proceeds from thee products they may otherwise avoid. In particular, **the money found its way to trusts--which extended financing to questionable borrowers.** * Bigger issue for smaller and mid-size banks that are adding **"trust beneficiary rights", a derivative that gives a bank the right to cash flows generated by loans held by trusts** * **China Everbright Bank,** had 263b yuan of beneficiary rights at end of June, up 61% from year earlier. * **Total trust exposure is 4%, yet it accounts for 70% of shareholder equity.**

Answer 20

**Jessica Bibliowicz, National Financial Partners Founder,** to be **Senior Adviser at Bridge Growth Partner**s, a **PE firm focused on technology and financial services.** **Daughter of former Citigroup Chairman and CEO, Sanford Weil.** Carreer Stops include: **executive roles at Prudential Financial, Smith Barney of CItigroup** - where she famously clashed with her father's protege **James Dimon.** She founded **National Financial Partners** 15 years ago and sold it to PE firm **Madison Dearborn Partners LLC** earlier this year. **Bridge Growth Partners founders: Sander Levy, Alok Singh, tech executive Kevin Parker.** Levy previously helped found **Vestar Capital Partners - which just bought Huish Detergents to creat Sun Products.**

Answer 21

**$204.9b invested in U.S. banks in 2008 through the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP)** **Quarterly dividend paymetns owed to the Treasury are set to double to 9%.** **While much of the sector has returned to health, some smaller banks that were exposed to commercial-real estate loans are clawing way back and will be unable to pay dividends.** **Anchor BanCorp Wisconsin.** Largest taxpayer-backed investments that haven't been reparid **Popular** (**Banco Popular) $935m.** **Surprisingly, Treasury has reaped a small profit on the program so far. Of** **$****204.9b,****$****195b has been recouped in principal payments and** **$****12b****in interest.**

Answer 22

Founded in **1972** and creator of **classics "Pong", "Asteroids", "Rollercoaster Tycoon", and "Test Drive",** **Atari Inc** has filed for **Ch 11 Bankruptcy.** **In the deal French parent company Atari SA will maintain ownership of the franchises "Rollercoaster Tycoon" and "Test Drive".** Atari will **pay off a $3.8m bankruptcy loan to lender Alden Global Capital.** Parent company Atari SA will pay up to $3.4m in cash to fund the proposal, and contribute $1.75m oce the plan becomes effective.

Answer 23

* **Costa Concordia** pulled from the Mediterranean Sea floor 20 months after tragic accident. * **Carnival Corp.,** owner and operator of the **Costa Concordia**, **took another hit this year. A fire left 4,000 passengers and crew stranded on the Carnival Triumph for days.** * Trading in line with competitiors **Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings** and **Royal Caribbean** **Cruises** * **World's largest cruise line** * **New focus on Asia** , bookings could surge 7-fold by 2020. * **Big Prize - Mainland China, no cruise industry a decade ago...** * **70% of worldwide cruise passengers are from U.S. or Canada.** * **Penetration - number of passengers who have ever taken a cruise.**

Answer 24

* **Apple** reported a "record breaking" opening weekend for its newest iPhones-**iPhone 5s and 5c-**at **9m** * **Take with caution, Apple included "new" iPhone sales in its opening-weekend count for the first time.** * **They also opened in more countries this year, inlcuding China** and added **Japan's** largest wireless carrier **NTT DoCoMo.** * **These changes probably added 3m to sales.** * ** Google Android's 80% year-over-year growth.** * **One for boost for Apple will come when China Mobil, China's largest carrier, picks up iPhone.** * Without new markets to plumb, **Apple sales growth may slow.**

Answer 25

**Trading in FICC--jargon for fixed income, currency, and commodities--accounts for about 25% of big banks' earnings.** **Past three months: The market first became convinced that the Fed would reduce its bond-buying stimulus program in September, only to be shocked when it didn't materialize.** **This sent bond prices lower and yields higher...the result: banks took paper losses on the bonds they** kept on their books and **reduced trading activity as investors sat on the sidelines.** Revenue at **i**nvestment bank **Jefferies Group** fell 88% in third quarter from a year earlier. Most Controversial word on Wall Street: **Risk** **In tough environment, best way to boost profits is to put more capital at risk.** **"Value at risk"** - **VAR** - a yardstick of how much a bank's trading operations could lose in any single day.

Answer 26

Manhattan federal grand jury indicted **Javier Martin-Artajo** and **Julien Grout** for allegedly **inflating the value of derivative positions that led to the "London Whale" losses.** **Their response is to point fingers at Bruno Iksil, the London whale, who placed outsize derivative bets on corporate bonds which led to $6b in losses for JP. Morgan** **Artajo** supervised Mr. Iksil and other traders in the London office while Mr. Grout was a junior trader who worked for Mr. Iksil and was responsible for recording daily values on Iksil's trading positions. Iksil reached a **"nonprosecution agreement"** earlier for **cooperating with U.S. authorities.** **Iksil was a father figure to Grout.**

Answer 27

Rising interest rates have led to a slow down in U.S. **mortgage loan and refinancing applications** **and banks respond by laying off mortgage workers.** **Citigroup** said Monday it laid off 1,000 workers in its mortgage business. That brings to total for major lenders to **7,000** for the year. **Wells Fargo, largest mortgage lender. Citi- #6.** For Citi, affected positions are primarily in **Las Vegas and Irving, Texas** **and include jobs such as sales-fulfillment, mortgage underwriting, and mortgage default functions.** **Mortgage originations include home purchases and refinancing.**

Answer 28

**NIke** inc. stock is flying high, trading at **23 times forward earnings.** **key measure is "futures" - indications of Customer orders Nike gives for the following 6 months.** **Stock up 46% this past year.** Nike's operating income - **+25% NA, +19% Emerging Markets, +11% in West Europe, -2% Japan, -11% in China.** If earnings Thursday show slowdown in North America or a failure to resume modest groth in the key Chinese Markey, could spark unease.

Answer 29

* **J.C. Penny is considering raising more cash to "build a bigger liquidity buffer".** * Capital structure currently consists of **70% debt** * **Same-store sales have taken hit over the past two years, reaching -20% in some quarters.** * **Recently ousted CEO Ron Johnson** * **Analysts expect Penney to lose 86 cents per share this quarter.**

Answer 30

London based brokerage **ICAP (world's largest interdealer broker) became 4th major firm to** **settle allegations its employees manipulated benchmark interest rates.** So far, **all firms that have settled have been European.** **ICAP CEO Michael Spencer** **$65m to Commodity Futures Trading Commission, $22m to U.K's Financial Conduct Authority** U.S. Justice Department has criminally charged three former ICAP brokers **Darrell Read, Daniel Wilkinson and Colin Goodman**. Allegedly took instructions from bank traders about which direction they wanted Libor to move, and they passed those requests on to other banks. **Barclays, UBS, and RBS have agreed to pay a total of $2.5b to settle charges.** **Citigroup and J.P. Morgan Chase expected to reach settlement next summer.**

Answer 31

* **Fannie Mae plans to sell about $675m of securities** whose value will depend on the performance of a pool of $28.05b of mortgages acquired by Fannie Mae in 3rdQ of 2012. * **Freddie Mac, Fannie's smaller brother,** issued similar deal in July. * **Federal Housing Finance Agency**, their regulator, has mandated they **reduce cost of defaults to U.S. taxpayer.** * Fannie and Freddy don't make mortgage loans, but buy loans made by other lenders and package them into securities that they sell to investors with a **guarantee of principal and int payments.** * Investors are tip-toeing back into the market while **Fannie** assures this deal known as the **Connecticut Avenue Securities** series will include its "strongest performing book of business".

Answer 32

**The CFTC closed 5yr investigation** of silver-market manipulation claims **without filing charges.** **J.P. Morgan Chase, a large silver trader,** was the subject of manipulation allegations. Silver traders claimed **financial institutions** had artificially depressed the price of silver in the **$19b silver futures market.** CFTC commissioner, **Bart Chilton,** is disappointed and says the **"manipulation standard** **remains too high a hurdle for regulators to overcome". Not enough bad actors.** **Despite expanded powers of enforcement granted in Dodd-Frank, the agency has successfully concluded just one case- involving the power market.** **In order to win, CFTC must prove a trader not only has the intention to manipulate the prices, but also an actual trade that has resulted in an uneconomic price.**

Answer 33

* Due to recent **technology glitches****,****Nasdaq OMX Group and NYSE Euronext** are discussing a system to help each other in the even of a tech failure. * **This month, SEC** set a **60-day deadline** for exchanges to strengthen thie technology. * This follows a **3hr** **halt Aug. 22 in securities listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market** as a data feed, known as **Securities Information Processor.** It suffered another outage a week later. * **Another problem at NYSE Euronext led to 10min shutdown of options market.** * Most logical would be for each to **back** **up each other's data feed.** * **Problem - NYSE's and Nasdaq's** **data feeds use different methods to communicate. Standardizing would be costly and borne by consumer.** * **Three feeds - Tape A (NYSE managed), Tape B (NYSE and BATS), Tape C (Nasdaq).**

Answer 34

* In May, **JPMC, BoA, and Goldman** agreed to sell debt for a **$1.1b takeover** of teenage fashion chain **rue21** inc.by U.K. PE firm **Apax Partners**. * When they went to market in August, **rue's** earnings had fallen and **debt investors didn't buy in.** * **Now, they're offering $780m in debt at discount prices of 80-85cents on the dollar. The banks will be on the hook for the difference which could be $156m.** (JP and BoA 45% each, Goldman 10%) * The bank's willingness to swallow such losses highlights banks' aversion to keeping risky debt on their books following crisis. * **rue21** operates 971 stores in 47 states. *

Answer 35

**Payday lenders are under pressure to report customer inforamtion to state databases. Alabama last week joined 13 other states (Illinois, FL) that have databases that track use of payday loans.** **Payday loans typically must be paid back within two-weeks to 30 days** **Average size of parday loan $375.** **Consumer Financial Protection Bureau**, established by Dodd Frank, **supervises payday lenders.** **Database efforts come amid concerns that payday loans are trapping consumers in debt.** **Borrow Smart Alabama** payday-loan trade group opposes the database. Saying databases have led to a decrease in loan volumes in states that have them. Some states limit the $ amount while others the number of loans that can be taken out in a year. **Indian tribes in NY are suing saying they're immune to crack down.**

Answer 36

**Personal income and spending data show spending has risen 0.3% in August, up form just 0.1% in July.** **Annual consumption expenditure has risen just 3.1%, not much considering inflation.** **"Financial Repression" - encourage investors to buy riskier assets than they might otherwise, given low yields on safe ones.** **Applies to households as pennies saved earn virtually nothing in the bank. Ideally, this should propel sepnding and economic growth.** On the other hand, **ytd disposable income has risen just 1.8% amid tax increases and tepid wage gains. Avg since 1960, 6.9%.**

Answer 37

A showdown at the negotiating table awaits Attorney General **Eric Holder** and J.P. Morgan Chase CEO **Jamie Dimon** over allegations that **JPMC** mislead investors in MBSs. JPMC could pay as much as **$11b in fines.** Key topic: **Dimon** wants **JPMC** to be shielded from future expensive lawsuits from regulators and private citizens. And wants to spare an **admission** of **wrong-doing****.** **Dimon famouns for reciting John Pierpont Morgan: "first-class business in a first-class way".** **Dimon Carries two lists in his breast pocket - "What I owe people" and "what people owe me".**

Answer 38

**James Dimon met with ERic Holder to discuss a deal to resolve outstanding probes of the bank's past work in mortgages as well as avoid future civil and criminal charges against JP Morgan.** **Price tag could reach $11b.** **This comes as an initial settlement of $3b was rejected.** **Negotiation was historic because Holder personally led negotiations with the head of a company under investigation.** **Sticking point: Whether JP would admit wrongdoing.**

Answer 39

Marquee **bond fund managers** were vindicated when bets the **Fed** would be cautious paid off. **Pacific Investment Management Co.'s Total Return Fund, the world's largest bond fund, run by co-CIO Bill Gross is up 1.05% in the 3rd quarter.** **DoubleLine Capital LP's $35.4b Double-Line Total Retun Bond Fund run by Jeffrey Gundlach** is up .31% this year.

Answer 40

New rules governing how **swaps are traded kick in Oct. 2.** **Swaps,** derivatives tradiditionally not traded on exchanges, which corporations and financial institutions use to protect against, or speculate on, changes in everything from fuel costs to int rates. Mandated out of Dodd Frank, new rules would require most **swaps to be traded through registered venues (Swap execution facilities), routed through central clearing-houses and reported to data warehouses known as trade repositiories.** Industry officials are grumbling asking for an extension since the platforms aren't ready yet.

Answer 41

**BATS Global Markets Inc.** based in **Lenexa**, Kan, announced an all-stock deal to merge with smaller U.S\> rival **Direct Edge Holdings.** BATS only 8 yrs old. NYSE trace roots to 1792 and formlly founded in 1817. This deal would topple **Nasdaq OMX Group** **as** the second largest U.S. exchange in terms of **trading activity.** **Combines Direct Edge's two exchanges with BATS existing 2 to give them 1/5 of the U.S. market.** **BATS CEO Joe Ratterman** **Direct Edge CEO William O'Brien**

Answer 42

SEC chairman **Mary Jo White** plans to ramp up policing of financial institutions. In her enforcement agenda, she said the agency wil seek charges against more individuals and pursue larger fines against companies that commit wrongdoing. Says **admissions of guilt will accompany settlements from now on.** **Required JP Morgan Chase to admit it violated securitieslaws as part of its $200m settlement over a London Whale incident.** **Under current law, SEC levied fines are based on a firm's profits from the misconduct, not investor losses.** **White advises her staff to start with the individual and work out to the entity.**

Answer 43

**Paul Konigsberg** was indicted Thursday for allegedly keeping false books that helped **Madoff** cover up fraud for decades. He pleaded not guilty and was released on bail. **Nine people, including Madoff, ** have pleaded guilty to criminal charges in connection with the scheme.

Answer 44

**Dish Network bid $2.2b for certain spectrum assets of LightSquared, a wireless holding company that recently filed for CH.11.** **Charlie Ergen CEO** As **video-subscriber growth slows and progrmming costs rise, Mr. Ergen hopes to transition Dish into a new business by putting its spectrum to use in a wireless network.** **Dish recently applied to Federal Communications Commission for rights to download information on existing spectrum. Meanwhile, LightSquared applied for permission to use some of its spectrum for uploading.** **If bid and applications are approved, then Dish would have a network it could sell to a cellular company such as AT&T at a premium. Creating as much as $10/share in value.**

Answer 45

Even as stocks rise to record highs in recent weeks, **some money managers are moving out of stocks and into cash.** **Looming tapering and uncertainty about brinkmanship in Washington are reasons.** **Part of the flwo into cash is from the summer's bond-market sell-off.** **Scott Clemons, CIO of Brown Brothers Harriman's WEalth fund says cash makes up 15% of his clients portfolio this year.**

Answer 46

**Alex Wilmot-Sitwell, president of BoA for Europe,** faces criticism from U.K. law enforcers about his time as a **UBS executive back in 2009, when Tom Hayes was rigging libor.** **Sitwell** claims he doesn't remember the emails about convincing rainmaker **Hayes** from jumping to **Citigroup** however parliamentar Tom Hayes left for Citigroup in 2009 and was paid $3m upfront before being fired a year later for rigging Libor.

Answer 47

**Ukraine's bonds recently took a tumble.** **Problems: a wide budget deficit, a wider trade deficit, dwindling reserves of foreign currency and debt coming due that needs to be repaid with it****.** **Ukrainian Prime Minister -** **Mykola Azarov** **Main transit point for natural gas from Russia to Europe. Has asked Russia to lower gas prices, russia urges customs union.** **Ukraine looking to EU for trade union and potential bail out from IMF**

Answer 48

**As real-estate prices have risen, and demand from buyers rebounded, banks are able to seel their OREO-other real estate owned...industry jargon for foreclosed properties.** **Western Alliance Bancorp booked a profit on a 30,000 sqft property it recently marked down.** **Commercial real-estate market didn't deal same blow as residential since banks held onto their properties long enough to recoup some value.** The great majority of properties sold have been purchased by mom-and-pop investors, immigrants and other smaller players, property brokers say.

Answer 49

Under proposed changes, recommended Tuesday by New York's **White Collar Crime Task Force**, the "unlawful duplication of computer-related material" would essentially be treated like any other type of larceny, with potentially serious prison time, depending on the value of the stolen code. **Sergey Aleynikov, former Goldman trader who copied copmputer code before leaving, previously convicted but was overturned after serving one year.**

Answer 50

Look at other ICAP cards for more info. Regulators have said that a quarterly "fixing fee" payment of about $**27,000** by UBS to ICAP, which was shared among several employees at the brokerage, was a reward for their help in a Libor-rigging plot.

Answer 51

S&P 500 up 5.7% since June **13 out of last 18 quarters** have been positive Troubling: Earnings growth has satlled recently. Market's P/E is **19.3**, 47% above long-term average.

Answer 52

**Argentina defaulted in 1992, and then again in 2001 on nearly $100b of bonds. Yet J.P. Morgan and investors are piling into Argentine bonds.** **J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.** raised the portion of Argentina's debt in its **IShares J.P. Morgan USD Emerging Markets Bond ETF** to $4m this month. Argentina's bond expiring 2033 has traded at a two-month high of 66 cents on the dollar. **The Bonds are rallying** **even as Argentina awaits a U.S. Supreme Court ruling on its appeal of a previous ruling which required it to pay out both groups of bondholders (Aurelius Capital Management and Elliott Management Corp's NMI).**

Answer 53

New rules under the **Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act** allow companies \< **$1b in rev** to **file their IPO listings privately with regulators** and reveal to public as little as **21days before price range is proposed.** So far, shares of companies that choose this option **have performed similarly** to those that didn't. **Twitter** qualifies for the new treatment, and has said it filed secretly. **RetailMeNot Inc (e-commerce) and Trulia (real-estate comp)** used the new rule and have done well. Trulia +124%. **"Roadshow" - formally pitches its stock to investors.** **Goal of legislation: Make it easier for companies to consider going public without scrutiny of competitors and public.** Attractve to Tech companies who have been harshly scrutinized of late (**Groupon had to change its accounting practices)**

Answer 54

Overall, the banking industry is getting healthier, but troubled banks are being allowed to linger for longer periods. **Capitol Bancorp, hit hard by housing bubble. 64 offices before crisis and now down to 6.** Most recently, **Sunrise Bank of Arizona, was closed.** Plans to sell remaining banks in an auction. The **risk, regulators' slow approach can cause banking executives to take extreme risks to survive and can lead to bigger price tags for the govt if they ultimately fail.** **In 2013, 13 of 22 banks that failed were deemed "significantly undercapitalized"** for at least a year before failure - **meaning Tier 1 capital ratio \< 3% of assets or a total risk-based capital ratio of less than 6%.** A "**well capitalized"** - **Tier 1 of at least 5% of avg assets** and **6% of risk-based assets**, and **Total Capital of at least 10% of risk-based assets.** Regulators aren't required to start process of closure until reach "**critically undercapitalized" tangible capital of \<2% of assets.**

Answer 55

Money is moving back into the U.S. stock market as stock funds have taken in a net **$151b this year**, better than $431b that headed out 2008-2012. **Busiest year for IPO market since 2007.** **So far, 156 companies have gone public.** Notable offerings this fall: **Twitter (Nov), Hilton Worldwide Holdings (World's largest hotel chain) and Chrysler Group**. **Midasplayer International Holding,** maker of wildly popular online game **Candy Crush Saga** will soon be selling shares. **Facebook's IPO last year had scared individual investors, however recent success of Rocket Fuel, FireEye, and Benefitfocus** has industry experts expecting **individual investors to get back in the IPOaction.** Most Successful 2013 IPOs: **Stemline Therapeutics +331%, Insys Therapeutics +314%,Textura +178%**

Answer 56

**Pinterest,** almost social networking equivalent of **window-shopping**. Good opportunity for advertisers. According to tech firm **RichRelevance,** which tracks online traffic for retailers, customers which came to sites from Pinterest spent **$140-$180 an order. Compared to $80 for FB and $60 for Twitter.** **Basically serves as an online catalog users fill with stuff they want to buy by clicking "pin" button.** **Pinterest presents a unique opp for advertisers..downside is doesn't appeal to many men.** **Top 100 most downloaded apps for iPhone and Android users.** **Andreessen Horowitz (VC firm), gave Pinterest a $2.5b valuation despite generating no revenue.** **J Crew and Target already tapping into potential by posting catalogs and pricing on Pinterest.**

Answer 57

* In coming month, markets face four tests: **Washington debt crisis, release of September employment data, 3rd Qtr easrnings releases and the Federal Reserve's next policy.** * **Washington** - **Most worrisome is if Congress refuses to raise debt ceiling and U.S. defaults. Could send global markets for a dive.** * **Earnings -** Fear for soft earnings reports. Analysts will have their eyes on **sales forecasts** since most early earnings growth following crisis came from **cost cutting measures.** * **Jobs - Sept Job creation and unemployment data are due from Labor Department Friday. Strong -\> taper...soft -\>maintaining stimulus.** * **Fed Meeting - Oct. 29 & 30, depends likely on debt-ceiling, govt spending, and sept job data. General consensus is FEd will bend over backwards to keep the economy out of recession.** *

Answer 58

**Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), which regulates national banks, is rolling out a program that will subject bank examiners and other personnel to the same level of rigorous review the agency currently puts banks through.** **Comptroller of Currency - Thomas Curry** Response to Capitol Hill's criticism of the lax oversight the OCC had pre financial crisis. Missed **London Whale trades, a troubled mortgage foreclosure review, and mistakes enforcing money-laundering rules.** Separate initiative will **allow regulators from Canada, Singapore, and Australia to perform their own independent evaluations of OCC.** **Focus** on the areas of the ageny's **operations that pose the greatest risk.**

Answer 59

Bankers at **Mizuho** **Bank, a core-unit of Japan's second largest lender, lent money to crime-syndicate members for more than two yrs without cutting them off or alerting authorities.** **Mizuho Financial Group.** **Mostly auto loans totaling $2m, the Financial Services Agency said.** Ordered to submit a plan to improve its operations by Oct. 28th. **yakuza - Japanese crime syndicates.** **In 2007,** FSA suspended activities of **bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ after it was found to have made loans to yakuza.** **Japan passed laws in '91 making yakuza activity illegal and obligating banks to check customers' identification and report information of money laundering.** **Failure to make adequate efforts to identify a client can lead to a 1yr prison term or a fine of up to 1million yen.**

Answer 60

**Unidentified cooperating person (woman),** provided information in criminal investigation over **JPMC**'s mortgage securities division. Suggests the bank **overstated quality of mortages that were being bundled into securities and sold to investors before the financial crisis.** **DOJ is pushing for admission of wrong-doing** and the settlement is in ballpark of $**11b, $7b in cash and $4b in relief to consumers.** **One scenario - bank gets a deferred prosecution agreement with the govt in which it assits in investigation of individuals.** **NY Attorney Eric Schneiderman and** **Federal Housing Finance Agency also filing suits involving mortgage-bonds.**

Answer 61

**Walgreen Co,** nation's largest drugstore chain by # of stores, growth today is exagerrated by its rebound from the 2012 spat with **pharmacy-benefits manager Express Scripts.**

Answer 62

"We're having a hard time finding things to buy" - **Warren Buffet** Stock investors warn that the air is getting thinner for U.S. stocks. **Up 18% this yaer, the DJIA is at its loftiest levels in years when compared with corporate profits.** **S&P 500 is trading at 14.3 times the value of next 12 months earnings.** **Slow pace in corporate earnings growth...and even this figure has been inflated by stock buybacks.**

Answer 63

**Robert Bemosche, wall street's contrarian-in-chief, who becam CEO of American Internation Group (AIG) after its bailout, says too big to fail is a thing of the past.** **FDIC** has new plan for a bank on brink of failure**. Take over bank's holding company while trying to keep alive its operating subsidiaries.** (units that run branches and welath management) This would stave off a **potential bank run, but the pain would be felt by the shareholders, creditors and management. (better than the taxpayers!)** **Martin Gruenberg, FDIC Chairman, confident his agency could pull of a bank rescue.** **New Paradigm: Spreads on bank bonds holding companies are higher than their subsidiaries. (inversion) Bondholders, shareholders, and creditors will be on the hook for losses.**

Answer 64

**Pimco, Blackrock, Loomis Sayles & CO, Lord Abbett & Co, Ashmore Group, and Spinnaker Capital Group, some of world's biggest bond-fund managers ** are bracing for **Eike Batista's empire's expected default.** They hold roughly half of the **$3.6****b in $-denominated debt issued by OGX Petroleo e Gas Participacoes SA, Mr. Batista's flagship oil company.** Company plans to skip an interest payment of $44m due soon as it continues talks of **debt-restructuring.** Has 30 days after missed payment before penalties kick in. **Lazard and Blackstone Group bankers tapped to work on restructuring.**

Answer 65

U.S. PE firm **KKR** takes a **10% stake in** **Qingdao Haier, listed unit of Haier Group China's largest appliance maker, at a 15% discount to listed price and attains 1 out of 9 board seats.** **KKR** recently raised a $6b Asia fund. Announced it will pay **$1.7b** for an **80% stake in Panasonic. (its biggest deal ever in Japan**) **Haier wishes to compete with Western and Japanes names, using acquisitions** as key strategy. Owns most of **Fisher & Paykel Appliances Holdings, and in 2011 bought Sanyo Electric's Co's household appliances unit for $130m from Panasonic.**

Answer 66

American exceptinoalism remains alive and well in the U.S. bond market at least: **as govt looks like it might shut down, its cost of borrowing actually falls.** **Yields on 10yr Treasury actually fell** slightly as govt nears shutdown. In contrast, emerging markets such as **India, Brazil, Turkey have seen** their stock markets and currencies battered. Shutdown could result in **less trade** which would further burden emerging economies. **Emerging markets staged comeback in Sept as Fed delayed taper, pushing more investors into higher yielding assets.**

Answer 67

Dimon and Bill Gates appeared at a **JPMC** cocktail reception to tout the bank's new socially responsible investment fund, which is backed by the **Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation** and will pump money into the development of drugs t**argeting diseases common in developing countries.** **Mr. Dimon** has taken every opportunity to talk up the bank's role as a lender, supporter of loacl communities and champion charitable causes.

Answer 68

Analysts are scrambling to ratchet down earnings estimates ahead of the 3rd Q reports as **weak trading revenue, a sharp decline in mortgage refinancing activity and tising legal costs trouble banks.** Cut profit estimates for all 6 largest U.S. banks excep **Wells Fargo.** **BofA** suffered the biggest drop, as analysts cut earnings predictions by **27% since July 1. ** **JP Morgan plans to cut as many as 15,000 jobs in its mortgage division by end of 2014.**

Answer 69

Govt sent home 99.9% of employees at **Bureau of Labor Statistics on Tuesday,** which will likely delay this Friday's **jobs report.** A private sector report on payrolls will be released Wednesday by **Automatic Data Processing Inc.** Over long run, ADP release shows job gains in line with the official numbers.

Answer 70

**Mexico's real-estate investment trust** industry still struggling to find its footing. Called **fibras,** these investment vehicles give developers access to public-equity markets and **don't pay corporate income taxes as long** they **distribute all of their income as dividends.** **Fibra Uno**, mexico's largest REIT, paid $100m to buy a 49% stake in **Torre Mayor** complex in Mexico City. Controlled by founding **El-Mann family.** Some investors are wary since mexican fibras **are externally managed and often controlled by wealthey families. In addition, they charge fees based on asset value and acquisitions. Transparency an issue. ** Exception: **Terrafina, an industrial Fibra founded and managed by Prudential Real Estate Investors, has a majority of independent board members.**

Answer 71

A **package of steep tax increases** by Mexico's **President Enrique Pena Nieto** is likely to deal a blow to Mexico's new-home industry**.** Must be approved by congress on Nov. 15th. **16% "value added" tax** on many home sales, mortgage interest and rents and a **capital gains tax** on home sales of 1.24m pesos or more. Mortgage interest payments no longer tax deductable. **Mexican government subsidises roughly 1/3 of all purchases of homes of $25k or less.**

Answer 72

U.S. dollar has tumbled amid Washinton wrangling as investors worry about the prospect the U.S. may run out of borrowing capacity this month. **800,000 govt workers who will go unpaid due to shutdown.** **Congress must raise debt ceiling by Oct. 17th** or the Treasury will be unable to pay its bills. Dollars gyrations are likely to become more violent at this date approaches.

Answer 73

**Goldman Sachs Group** trader **Farbrice Tourre** seeking to reverse a devision that found him liable for defrauding investors in a mortgage-linked deal, **Abacus 2007-AC1.** **Mr. Tourre** filed a motion asking **U.S. District Judge Katherine Forrest to dismiss each oft he 6 civil counts against him, or order a new trial, on grounds the jury's findings weren't supported by the case the SEC** brought against him. **Matthew Martens,** SEC's chief litigation counsel plans to leave SEC this month. To be succeeded by **Matthew Solomon.**

Answer 74

**Andrew Ceresny****, SEC co-director of enforcement, is ramping up its penalties in an agressive bid to deter misconduct.** **SEC will focus on imposing tough penalties on individuals** wherever possible instead of just settling with a firm. New policy: **admission of wrong-doing when deemed appropriate.**

Answer 75

One of the most forward looking data series, **The Institue for Suply Management's Manufacturing Index registered a reading of 56.2 for Sept, the highest in 29months.** **The nonmanufacturing index, is due Thursday, and actually covers a larger swath of the U.S. economy. (nearly 9/10).** **It hit 58.6 in August, the highest since Dec 2005.** **With figures like these, it will be hard for Fed to drag its feet much longer on tapering.**

Answer 76

In summer of 2007, **executives at Countrywide Financial Corp.** were desperate to move away from the slumping market of sub-prime mortgages and into higher quality loans. They created a program called "**High Speed Swim Lane"-HSSL, or "hustle"** that pared back checks on loan quality so mortgages could be approved more quickly. Federal Govt officials are using email exchanges between Unit's COO **Rebecca Mairone** and **Ed O'Donnel, former head of underwriting,** in their civil case against **BofA which bought Countrywide in 2008.** Attempting to show Mairone and BofA committed fraud when they ignored concerns about quality to speed up sales of the loans to **Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.** **"Sprint Incentive" -** program introduced by Countrywide and paid employees a bonus every time they successfully rebutted a case for why a loan was bad.

Answer 77

**Depfa Bank, Dexia SA, and a unit of Commerzbank AG** have hired lawyers to protect their share of **Detroit's** meager cash pile. Usually banks want to avoid drawn-out bankruptcy court trials, but since some of them were **nationalized in 2008 they want to recoup as much as they can for taxpayers.** **Amount of Detroit pension bonds held by banks: Dexia - $305m Depfa - $175m, Commerzbank - $153m** The banks' main objection is to **Detroit Emergency Management Kevynn Orr's agreement** to pay **UBS and BofA to unwind a derivatives transaction.** **Depfa** recently asked wall street traders to circulate offers to sell the $175m of bonds for 46 cents on the dollar.

Answer 78

Stock exchanges for years have been resposible for policing their trading systems - a system known as **self-regulation.** As competition among exchanges has ramped up in recent years, critics say exchanges have fallen short as they seek to attract traders to their systems. Last month, "**dark pools"** and other privately run trading venues that aren't regulated traded a record **38%** of all shares. **Financial Industry Regulatory Authority - Wall Street's self funded regulatory agency overseen by SEC - submitted a new rule that would provide a more detailed view into the activities of private trading venues such as dark pools.** **Ms. White said recent technology glitches at Nasdaq and NYSE Euronext have called the integrity of the market into question. Hired Tradeworx to deliver a system that would publicly release data on all stock orders and cancellations.**

Answer 79

Wrangling in Washington and an **ADP National Employment Report** that showed a smaller than expected increase of 166,000 jobs to the U.S. in Sept sent the yield on the **10yr treasury to its 7-week low of 2.594%.** **Investors pile into treasuries as safe haven, pushing prices up and yields down.**

Answer 80

**Lorillard,** #3 U.S. tobacco company by market value, behind **Altria Group and Reynolds American,** has agreed to pay as much as **$100m** for **Skycig**, a UK based maker of electronic cigarettes (e-cigs). This follows a **$135m deal to buy blu eCigs, a U.S. brand.** Lorillard's main product is **Newport**, a menthol cig regulators have considered controlling more tightly, so **pressure to diversify is likely reason for acquisitions.** FDA is also pushing new **rules to reduce amount of nicotine in cigarettes, making them less addictive.** E-cigarettes could be nice insurance for Lorillard.

Answer 81

Over a year after 5 large banks agreed to pay **$25b and improve their foreclosure practices, the lenders are facing criticism for failing to live up to their end of the bargain.** Landmark settlement with **BofA, JP Morgan Chase, Citigroup, Wells Fargo, and Ally Financial.** **Overseers of the Feb 2012 settlement rolled out new set of rules to address what regulators and consumer advocates say are problems in bank's handling of loan modifications.** Pact led to more than 300 new standards for how banks handle these issues. Among requirements: **mortgage servicers provide single point of contact for borrowers and notify borrowers of problems with their applications more quickly.**

Answer 82

SEC filed a civil case against **Mark Cuban** in 2008, charging he violated securities lawss in 2004 when he sold his **6% stake in Mamma.com** after learning insider information from the **CEO, Guy Faure.** Mark Cuban took the stand at his insider-trading trial, testifying that he didn't recall a conversation with **CEO of Mamma.com, a Canadian internet search company.** **Mamma.com** was to participate in a **private placement offering (PIPE)** to raise money by selling equity in the company. After hearing this, **Cuban allegedly dumped his $7m stake in Mamma.com avoiding losses of $750,000 when the share price dropped after the public learned of the private stock offering.** **He faces several millino in fines if found guilty.**

Answer 83

Activist hedge-fund manager **William Ackman's Pershing Square Capital Management** has seen its value decline by $2b this year largely due to investment declines. **Ackman** suffered setbacks with a soured stake in **J.C. Penney** (**$600m losses)** and a big bet against **Herbalife** that is underwater. Main fund just up **0.5% this year net of fees, compared to 20% for S&P500.** Placed a **$1b short on Herbalife in December of 2012, claiming it was an illegal pyramid scheme.** Shares of Herbalife have **more than doubled since then.** Recently announced he restructured the position in Herbalife to include **put options that expire in 2015. These allow an investor the right to sell stock at a set price over a designated time frame.**

Answer 84

**S&P Municipal Bond Puerto Rico Index** is down **18% this year** and has caused officials at **Treasury Department and Federal Reserve** to hold a meeting to discuss potential consequences. **Puerto Rico owes $70b on its bonds and its rating is BBB- , just one notch above junk status.** PR's economy has been in decline for several years, hurt by end in 2006 of tax breaks that attracted U.S. companies for decades. **Unemployment: 13.9%** Unlike other muni bonds, **interest on PR's bonds is exempt from local, state, and federal** **income taxes.** PR governor, **Alejandro Garcia Padilla.**

Answer 85

**Money managers doubt the damage of the government shutdown will be lasting, and view any stock sell off as a buying opportunity.** So far declines in market have been modest yet the larger problem involves raising the debt ceiling. **Treasury Dept will run short of money to pay bills on Oct. 17th if ceiling isn't raised.**

Answer 86

**Frank DiPascali Jr., former CFO at L. Madoff Investment Securities,** will be a key witness in the government's prosecution of 5 former Madoff employees who they believe participated in pnzi scheme. **DiPascali plead guilty in 2009 to 10 criminal charges and hopes providing testimony will lead to leniency. He faces 125yrs at the moment.** **Computer programmers Jerome O'Hara and George Perez** **allegedly** created phony customer accounts while portfolio managers **Annette Bongiorno and JoAnn Crupi concocted trading records.** **Daniel Bonventre, former operations director, worked with Mr. DiPascali to allegedly "gin" up phony books and records.** Lawyers for all 5 defendants say their clients had no knowledge of the fraud being carried out by Mr. Madoff, Discapali and others.

Answer 87

**Bruce Berowitz,** star mutual fund manager and president of **Fairholme Capital Management**, launched a hedge-fund **Fairholme Partnership LP** in January and is now looking to **institutional investors to grow it to $1b in assets in a yr.** Must put in **$5m for 1, 3, or 5 yrs.** Fund up **23% this year.** **Unlike most hedge-funds, Fairholme doesn't charge a management fee. Only performance fees...15% for 5yr tranche, 20% for 3yr, and 25% for one yr.** **Berowitz known for aggressive tactics.** **In 2011, he ousted board of St.Joe Co. in a proxy battle, facing off against hedge-fund manager David Einhorn.** The stock of the real-estate company is down 30% this year but Berowitz insists he's confident in the outlook for the company.