Americas

How much is Comcast on the hook for with NBC?

16 Dec 2009

Brian Roberts, the cable group’s boss, said buying control of GE’s media business made him “strategically complete.” But if NBC Universal keeps growing, GE’s remaining stake could be worth some $20 bln in a few years. Thankfully, however, the deal could end up paying for itself.

Would California work better as four states?

21 May 2009

Bankers need to learn from bakers

27 Nov 2008

The baking business runs very smoothly. Bread is delivered in the desired quantities, technology advances (sliced bread was not the last word) and consumer tastes are satisfied. But add an “n” and the picture changes. As a business, banking is much less healthy.

Hapless policymakers: Bernanke is as much to blame as Greenspan

11 Mar 2008

Why isn’t every bank like Goldman?

18 Jan 2008

Ironically, it’s because they tried to copy Wall Street’s most successful firm. The banks most scarred by the subprime debacle - like Citi, Merrill and UBS - were infected by what could be called “Goldman envy”. Those that emerged unscathed were relatively immune to the disease.

Inefficient Market: Blackstone Letter

14 Jun 2007

Ponzi nation

8 Feb 2007

Inefficient market: The Perils of Tanzi finance

19 Feb 2004