Some classic financial stories from 2008.
Scotiabank takes a Boot to the Head
Thanks to their dealings with Lehman Brothers, Scotiabank is going to take a $595 million hit to their bottom line:
“Both the equity and fixed-income markets have experienced significant declines in value and extreme levels of volatility over the last several weeks, exacerbated by the Lehman bankruptcy,” stated Rick Waugh, Scotiabank president and chief executive.
I wouldn’t call that a “hit.” That is more like a boot to the head (to quote the Frantics).
I figured I was only putting stock charts up these days if you didn’t know what I meant about the boot-to-the-head reference. For you, I leave you this boot to the head.
“Rogue” Trader at BMO
Bank of Montreal took a boot to the head with the charging of former Lead Natural Gas Trader David Lee, who has to plead guilty to “…inflating the value of his portfolio and conspiring with others to deceive the bank…” ouch. It makes you wonder how prices of commodities are set after reading:
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the CFTC filed civil charges against Lee and several other traders he is accused of conspiring with between 2003 and 2007 to fraudulently overvalue a commodity derivatives trading portfolio at the Bank of Montreal.
Due to this, BMO had to take a 1st quarter 2007 write-down of almost C$237 million against its income. BMO seems to have taken a boot to the head as well.
Pay Day Loans Boot to the Head!
A while back, I reprised my posting Pay Day Loans No No No! But I continue to get inquiries about advertising on this site directly by Payday Loan firms. Now, I must put the disclaimer that one of my “group” advertisers has sold space on my site to a Pay Day Loan site, which I am displeased about and will attempt to remove as soon as possible.
Do not mistake my humour or frivolity at times about this subject as me being flippant or not caring, as I think this “financial service” is evil. The victims of these “services” are those who can afford to deal with them the least, and I am sure that during this ” credit crunch, ” Payday Loan Companies will jack up their “fees” even more than they currently do. I would urge my readers to contact their MPs and MPPs to have this industry more closely regulated.
Oh, and a boot to the head for all of those Pay Day Loan companies too!
Actually, I clicked one of your ads once and accidentally registered my email address (careless use of an autofill application) with for some American mortgage company. They told two friends, and they told two friends, and so on and so on. I think I’m free of them all now. At any rate, hopefully they gave you a buck or two.
I am on Twitter, look down the right hand column, you’ll see my Twitter log!
HA! I honestly don’t know if I’m laughing or crying right now. I’ll give your post a shoutout on Twitter (when are you joining us there?? – I’m @moneycoach )