As many of the world leading banks were posting ever more impressive figures for the thirds quarter, criticism from areas of the non-financial media began in earnest again.
The UK’s best-read newspaper, the Sun, owned by Rupert Murdoch, likes to champion itself as a journal for the average man and woman on the street.
As such, it was no surprise to see that the day after Goldman Sachs reported $3.6 billion of earnings for the third quarter, the paper lambasted the US bank for the expected average bonuses of bankers in its London office for the full year 2009.
The only surprise was the commentator it chose to pass judgement – Page 3 girl Amii, aged 22 and from Birmingham, pictured topless in a field.
“Furious” Amii, the Sun said, lashed out at the prospective Goldman bonuses. “Ordinary working families will be stunned to learn that bankers who helped cause the recession could pocket £450,000. They just don’t live in the real world.”
Asked for his reaction, a Goldman spokesman said: “Our vital statistics are much better than hers!”