It is tempting to think that Goldman Sachs has finally mastered the dark art of public relations. After settling a fraud suit bought by the Securities and Exchange Commission last week for a piffling $550m, the group then had the good sense to report weak second-quarter earnings on Tuesday. Compensation was down and share buy-backs absent. Yet, for all the helpful timing, its earnings reflect a world where it is far harder for investment bankers to prosper.
人們不禁會想:高盛(Goldman Sachs)終於掌握了公共關係的黑色藝術。上週,該公司以區區5.5億美元,就美國證券交易委員會(Securities and Exchange Commission)提起的一樁欺詐訴訟達成了和解,其後,該公司週二明智地發佈了疲弱的第二季度業績。薪酬有所下降,股票回購也銷聲匿跡。然而,儘管這種時機選擇頗有助益,高盛的業績還是反映出:在當前情況下,投資銀行家獲得成功的難度明顯加大。