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FX debate

FX debate

Testing times in the search for alpha

Country risk index

Country risk index

Bi-annual survey monitoring political and economic stability of 185 sovereign countries

February 2006

Off the Record





“I was meant to buy a new house today. All the financing was in place. Everything was agreed. Then a Russian turned up with a bag of cash and gazumped me. My wife’s not very happy.”

A top-level, London-based US investment banker shows that despite a great 2005 for the industry, there are some things an annual bonus cannot buy


“Private equity has the liquidity, hedge funds have the brains – the only thing us banks have left is credibility...”

A rare example of true honesty from an investment banker, or a too gloomy assessment of the state of the industry?


“The cynical view of mezzanine, of course, is that the amount of mezzanine finance in a deal equals the amount you have overpaid for an asset.”

A private equity investor in central Europe


“They are among the dumber trades I have seen.”

One emerging markets portfolio manager gives his view on the Latin American perpetual bond craze


“I’m talking to you from the gym. I don’t need to stop exercising to talk because I’m a very fit 40-year-old. I’ve resculpted my body.”

Senior capital markets banker in Asia gives an interview from his treadmill.

More Off the record







That’s shot your planes down, Louis!

A delegate at the ECBC plenary meeting in Milan after VDP chief Louis Hagan’s announcement of a forthcoming aeroplane Pfandbrief product was rubbished by the chief German regulator

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