Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Hot on Facebook
Uproar After NC State Agent 'Fixes' Girl's Lunch Preschooler has to eat chicken nuggets instead of mom's meal »

Goldman Leads Wall Street Bonus War

Under pressure to keep talent, losing firms shell out big

By Jim O'Neill,  Newser User

Posted Nov 19, 2007 11:56 AM CST

(Newser) – The Big Five Wall Street securities firms will pay $38 billion in bonuses this year—up from $36 billion last year—while shareholders tote up $74 billion in losses, their worst year since 2002, Bloomberg reports. All but Goldman Sachs lost more than 20% of their market value, says an analyst, but "they're all going to have to fall into line. If Bear and Merrill plead poverty, they're going to lose all of their good people.''

The bigger bonus pool stems from record earnings in acquisitions, IPOs, and sales of junk bonds, according to an analysis of bonuses at Goldman Sachs, Lehman Bros., Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, and Bear Stearns. Record earnings at Goldman are setting the pace: "They're playing a good hand as aggressively as you can play it,'' said John Gutfreund, former Salomon Brothers CEO, putting competitors in "an awkward position.''

People walk past the Merrill Lynch building on Thursday, Nov. 15, 2007 in New York. John Thain, CEO of NYSE Euronext, was chosen on Wednesday to lead Merrill Lynch effective Dec. 1. (AP Photo/Brian McDermott)
People walk past the Merrill Lynch building on Thursday, Nov. 15, 2007 in New York. John Thain, CEO of NYSE Euronext, was chosen on Wednesday to lead Merrill Lynch effective Dec. 1. (AP Photo/Brian McDermott)   (Associated Press)
Stanley O'Neal, lost his job as Chairman and CEO of Merrill Lynch & Co., after the company's dismal performance in 2007.
Stanley O'Neal, lost his job as Chairman and CEO of Merrill Lynch & Co., after the company's dismal performance in 2007.   (Associated Press)
This undated handout file photograph of Goldman Sachs president and chief operating officer Lloyd Blankfein was released by the Wall Street investment bank, Friday, June 2, 2006. Associated Press reporters and editors have surveyed proxy statements for most of the S&P 500 companies to provide a full picture of executives'...
This undated handout file photograph of Goldman Sachs president and chief operating officer Lloyd Blankfein was released by the Wall Street investment bank, Friday, June 2, 2006. Associated Press reporters...   (Associated Press)
A man checks his PDA outside the headquarters of Merrill Lynch & Co.,  Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2007, in New York.
A man checks his PDA outside the headquarters of Merrill Lynch & Co., Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2007, in New York.   (Associated Press)
Merrill Lynch's newly appointed CEO John Thain is seen in Davos, Switzerland in this Jan. 29, 2005 file photo.
Merrill Lynch's newly appointed CEO John Thain is seen in Davos, Switzerland in this Jan. 29, 2005 file photo.   (Associated Press)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Be the first to comment on this story.

More Newser Stories

Hey, Wall Street: Shut Up About Bonuses

Students Revolt Against Big Bank Recruiting

SEC Letting Big Banks Skirt Fraud Penalties

Facebook Could File IPO Papers Next Week: Insiders

Lehman Lives on— and It's Getting Bigger


NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne