Follow Newser on Twitter   Friend Newser on Facebook
Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Goldman Up Whopping 76% in 3rd Quarter

Bear Stearns drops 61% on mortgage fund losses

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 20, 2007 10:20 AM CDT

(Newser) – Two financial giants posted dramatic earnings this morning: Goldman Sachs wowed investors with a 79% surge in third quarter net income, while Bear Stearns’ dropped 61% thanks to massive hedge-fund losses. The two were on opposite sides of the subprime collapse. Bear Stearns is among the top packagers of mortgage-based securities, which Goldman short-sold for huge gains.

Goldman’s return on equity, which measures how efficiently funds reinvest earnings, rose to 36.6% from 31.6%, while Stearns’ plummeted to 5.3% from 13.7%, reports the Wall Street Journal. Stearns lost almost $200 million this summer when two of its hedge funds imploded. Goldman, meanwhile, lost $1.48 billion on junk-bonds, but offset that with the $2.15 billion sale of Horizon Wind Energy.

The headquarters of investment firm Goldman Sachs towers over smaller buildings in New York in this Dec. 11, 2006 file photo. The FBI is investigating anonymous threats against the firm contained in handwritten letters sent in late June, 2007, warning that hundreds will die and We are inside. You cannot...
The headquarters of investment firm Goldman Sachs towers over smaller buildings in New York in this Dec. 11, 2006 file photo. The FBI is investigating anonymous threats against the firm contained in handwritten...   (Associated Press)
The logo for Bear Stearns is shown at its corporate headquarters in New York, in this July 18, 2007 file photo. The financial world is anxiously waiting as four of the biggest U.S. investment banks prepare to report third-quarter earnings in the next several days. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, file)
The logo for Bear Stearns is shown at its corporate headquarters in New York, in this July 18, 2007 file photo. The financial world is anxiously waiting as four of the biggest U.S. investment banks prepare...   (Associated Press)
The building on Broad Street in New York's Financial District that houses brokerage firm Goldman Sachs is seen in this June 12, 2007 file photo. The financial world is anxiously waiting as four of the biggest U.S. investment banks prepare to report third-quarter earnings in the next several days....
The building on Broad Street in New York's Financial District that houses brokerage firm Goldman Sachs is seen in this June 12, 2007 file photo. The financial world is anxiously waiting as four of the...   (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

Stocks Seesaw as Credit Crisis Deepens

Techs Surge Despite Late Drop

Stocks Plunge as Credit Outlook Worsens

Mortgage Trouble Rattles Wall Street

Stocks Swing on CEO House Size


NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Timelines   |   Geek Sugar   |   Business Insider   |   HuffPost Entertainment