http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/comment/margareta-pagano/?service=Rss http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/comment/margareta-pagano/margareta-pagano-these-bankers-dont-deserve-to-keep-their-jobs-958349.html http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/comment/margareta-pagano/margareta-pagano-these-bankers-dont-deserve-to-keep-their-jobs-958349.html <p>The top executive directors of the eight banks that could take part in the Government's rescue plan were paid &pound;72m between them last year. That's nearly &pound;2m each. Many of them earned far, far more but this is the average. Over the same year, shareholders in most of those banks &ndash; namely Royal Bank of Scotland, HBOS and Barclays &ndash; have lost their shirts. And let us not forget, the shareholders who invested in Bradford & Bingley and Northern Rock, who have been wiped out by this banking calamity. In those cases, the chiefs left, albeit with big pay-offs.</p> Margareta Pagano Sun, 12 Oct 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/comment/margareta-pagano/margareta-pagano-will-china-tip-the-us-balance-of-financial-terror-951396.html http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/comment/margareta-pagano/margareta-pagano-will-china-tip-the-us-balance-of-financial-terror-951396.html <p>The former US Treasury Secretary, Larry Summers, calls it the "the balance of financial terror". A noted academic, Summers, who served under President Bill Clinton, was referring to the relationship between the US and its newer creditors, such as China, the Middle East and Russia. Foreign countries now own nearly a quarter, some $2.6 trillion, of the total US debt. They also own more than $14 trillion in US assets &ndash; that's more than the total US national output.</p> Margareta Pagano Sun, 05 Oct 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/comment/margareta-pagano/margareta-pagano-its-hero-to-zero-as-paulsons-own-stock-takes-a-dive-944664.html http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/comment/margareta-pagano/margareta-pagano-its-hero-to-zero-as-paulsons-own-stock-takes-a-dive-944664.html <p>Hank Paulson must be wishing he could introduce a ban on short-selling on his own stock. For the worth of the US Treasury Secretary is sinking faster than a stone; he's fallen from hero to zero as fast as the financial stocks he has sought to protect. </p> Margareta Pagano Sun, 28 Sep 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/comment/margareta-pagano/margareta-pagano-has-sir-victors-deal-of-a-lifetime-given-the-markets-a-lifeline-936673.html http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/comment/margareta-pagano/margareta-pagano-has-sir-victors-deal-of-a-lifetime-given-the-markets-a-lifeline-936673.html <p>Sir Victor Blank, chairman of Lloyds TSB and now HBOS, is a dark horse. Last Tuesday he was on the panel for a timely debate, held by headhunter Whitehead Mann, on what makes a great leader. As you can imagine in these lively financial times, it was a sparky affair at the RAC Club. Afterwards I caught up with Sir Victor, asking for his thoughts on the financial meltdown. "Opportunities, opportunities," he said, grinning, before dashing off. </p> Margareta Pagano Sun, 21 Sep 2008 00:00:01 +0100