It is becoming more difficult to call four-year old Moelis & Co a boutique firm. Times are good for independent investment banks, but can this run of good business continue?
Americas
Latest articles from US
Sanofi Aventis defies global turmoil to close $20bn takeover of Genzyme
June 1, 2011The caution in the markets following the tsunami in Japan and unrest in north Africa provided an unpromising backdrop to French company Sanofi Aventis's $20bn takeover of US biotech firm Genzyme. However, the deal passed off as a resounding success.
Why did some community banks fail and others thrive in the US crisis?
May 9, 2011Some US community banks managed themselves conservatively and stuck to their knitting while others expanded too quickly on the back of the real-estate boom. While the former are prospering, the problems and failures among the latter are adding up.
America's crumbling infrastructure: can private capital save it?
May 4, 2011The US is in trouble. Its infrastructure is in dire need of repair but the heavily indebted country cannot afford to pay for it. All the more surprising then that the overtures of private – and in many cases foreign – capital are being met with resistance.
End of the gold standard for US sovereign ratings
May 4, 2011Ratings agencies would lose their credibility if they did not now cast doubt on the US government’s AAA ratings.
US FATCA move leaves foreign financial institutions feeling the strain
May 3, 2011The US's Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act puts onerous burdens on foreign institutions to capture data about US clients and any clients with ownership of US assets, and to report related tax information to the country's tax authorities. For banks, it is a huge task but they had better do it well, as this is likely to be the first of many such schemes.
US bank revenue sources diverge
March 29, 2011The biggest US banks continue to diverge in terms of where they earn their revenue. Click here to read more.
Decision time on FX CCPs
March 8, 2011Two central counterparties are currently being built to clear foreign exchange options. There is a great deal of preparation to be done.
The failures of the Dodd-Frank bill
August 30, 2010The Dodd-Frank bill's failure to deal with the key problems that triggered the economic crisis is a missed opportunity.
A tough call
May 28, 2010Regulators are intent on reforming the role that derivatives play in bankruptcies, with the aim of preventing a future AIG or Lehman Brothers. But some are warning that, without a direct ban of these controversial financial instruments, this will be no easy task. Writer Suzanne Miller