Bonus Stockings To Be Filled With Coal Andrew Jeffery Nov 06, 2008 2:50 pm |
![]() |
![]() |
|
||||||||||||
|
Every November, that is, except this one.
The ongoing financial crisis has forced firms around the world to take almost $700 billion in losses, according to Bloomberg. As bonus season looms on Wall Street, expectations are bleak.
Two studies, released today by the Options Group and compensation consultant Johnson Associates, will detail just how bad things are. Estimates vary, but Wall Street bonuses will likely drop by between 20-70%, depending on position in the pecking order. The departments most responsible for the massive losses, primarily structured credit and mortgage-backed securities, will face the steepest reductions, but no group will be left untouched.
According to the Wall Street Journal, firms like Goldman Sachs (GS) and Morgan Stanley (MS) typically hand out half of all revenue to employees. Particularly at these bulge bracket companies, the bulk of that money comes in the form of end-of-year bonuses.
Now that these firms have accepted government money to help shore up their balance sheets, increased scrutiny is being placed on bonus payouts - especially at the top. Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein is being urged to forgo his 2008 bonus, despite his firm’s ability to ride out the crisis better than most.
But financial firms aren’t just cutting bonuses in an attempt to keep cash close to home. They’re also handing out pink slips.
Bloomberg is reporting Goldman started a round of layoffs yesterday that will result in a reduced headcount of around 3,200, or 10% of its total employees. Many analysts expect Goldman to post its first quarterly loss since the financial crisis began last year, when it reports earnings for its fiscal fourth quarter in December.
Not to be outdone, Citigroup (C) is said to be eliminating 9,100 positions over the next 12 months, or 2.6% of its massive workforce. CEO Vikrim Pandit has been aggressively cutting costs since he took the helm last year, and this would not the first time Citi has laid off staff to slim down its bloated operations.
These and other job cuts in industries throughout the economy all add up to one ugly jobs report, due out before the market opens tomorrow. Some expect job losses for the past month to be as high as 200,000, bringing the year’s total to over one million.
If things don’t turn around quickly, those delis and sushi joints may have to start in with some layoffs of their own.
|
|||||||
|
|||||||
discuss this article and more on the mv exchange |
|
Get real-time options trading ideas from Steve Smith, veteran options trader and newsletter author, plus let him show you the way to cut risk and boost your returns through the strategic use of options. Click here for a free 14 day trial to OptionSmith by Steve Smith.
The information on this website solely reflects the analysis of or opinion about the performance of securities and financial markets by the writers whose articles appear on the site. The views expressed by the writers are not necessarily the views of Minyanville Media, Inc. or members of its management. Nothing contained on the website is intended to constitute a recommendation or advice addressed to an individual investor or category of investors to purchase, sell or hold any security, or to take any action with respect to the prospective movement of the securities markets or to solicit the purchase or sale of any security. Any investment decisions must be made by the reader either individually or in consultation with his or her investment professional. Minyanville writers and staff may trade or hold positions in securities that are discussed in articles appearing on the website. Writers of articles are required to disclose whether they have a position in any stock or fund discussed in an article, but are not permitted to disclose the size or direction of the position. Nothing on this website is intended to solicit business of any kind for a writer's business or fund. Minyanville management and staff as well as contributing writers will not respond to emails or other communications requesting investment advice.
Copyright 2009 Minyanville Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| add rss feed | free article alerts |
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
DC
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennesee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Local Guides


















