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

Will Lehman Be the Crunch's Next Victim?

Shaky confidence means its biggest fear may be fear itself

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 18, 2008 4:52 AM CDT

(Newser) – After a collapse of confidence sank Bear Stearns last week, some traders are betting that Lehman Brothers will be the next victim of the credit crunch. Its stock went on a rollercoaster ride yesterday—plunging 40% at one point and closing down 19%, the biggest fall since the firm went public. But analysts, wary of giving vultures more reasons to circle, are watching what they say about the brokerage firm, Marketwatch reports.

"Just commenting on it seems to give it more credence," a professor at Harvard Business School said about Lehman's supposed woes. Many on the Street think that Lehman is in better shape than Bear Stearns was, and today's first-quarter earnings report will be watched closely. But the greatest threat to Lehman might be the waning confidence of its investors, rather than the state of its finances. At that point, said one analyst, "no level of liquidity will be sufficient."

The headquarters of Lehman Brothers is shown on Monday, June 11, 2007 in New York.
The headquarters of Lehman Brothers is shown on Monday, June 11, 2007 in New York.   (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
Edward Sweeney, left, of Lehman Brothers MarketMakers and Peter Tuchman look at a monitor from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Friday, Mar. 14, 2008.
Edward Sweeney, left, of Lehman Brothers MarketMakers and Peter Tuchman look at a monitor from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Friday, Mar. 14, 2008.   (AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams)
Marco Picone, right, and Michael McDonnell, both of Lehman Brothers MarketMakers consult on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Friday, March 14, 2008.
Marco Picone, right, and Michael McDonnell, both of Lehman Brothers MarketMakers consult on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Friday, March 14, 2008.   (AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams)
Portraits of the founders of Lehman Brothers adorn the walls of the investment bank's offices on Wall Street. (NYC20928)
Portraits of the founders of Lehman Brothers adorn the walls of the investment bank's offices on Wall Street. (NYC20928)   (Magnum Photos)
« 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

Cramer: Never Seen Wall Street This Bad

Lehman Posts $2.8B Loss, Stuns Wall St.

Lehman Is Selling $3B in Shares

Investors Ask: Who's Next?

After Meltdown, 'Safe Will Be the New Sexy': Cramer


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