THE FINTAG NEWSLETTER
@ Mon 26 January 2009 : GMT

FINTAG COMMENT

Branding.

Last week I accused those under 30 years for causing the crash. My solution was to put them on a permanent gap year where they could hypocritically fly around the world exploiting the locals in Peruvian tribes wearing organic shirts and sneakers made by 3 year old children in China.

But this was wrong. Given the under 30s were responsible, they should be given the opportunity to sought out the mess. Being just over the other side of 30 [Editor: In your dreams] I was broiught up to believe in strong brand names and grey hairs. The solidity and strength of a brand run by a silver fox made us feel warm and secure.

But no more. Branding is all about exploitation. Take Gordon Ramsey. This man of the moment knows how to sell his brand. I used to boast that I could get a top table at one of his London restaurants. Now all I have to do is go to Heathrow T5 and order some sandwiches for my flight. The man has taken his brand, exploited it and like Damien Hirst (also over 30) taken us for a ride. When the likes of Merrill Lynch, Barclays and Goldman Sachs are all branded as greedy bankers, then the brand is bust.

So what is the answer to resolving this confidence of crisis? Don't ask me. Find a policeman and ask them for they will surely be under 30. As for the rest of us, let us party like mad and the kids can sort out the problem. Anyone fancy squatting in a large house soon to be vacant in Holland Park because the Russian Oligarch has fallen on hard money laundering times?

Still, it is the year of the Ox and times will be getting better. In the meantime we should perhaps hope all the over 30's succumb to some nasty disease that kills them all off. What do you think? [Editor: Not that you ever take any notice of anyone except yourself.]

In today's "no gloom" edition I have gone slightly off piste like an under 30 year old snowboarder. Hope you have the attention span of an under 30 year old to finish reading it.

THE BROWN BACKLASH

independentFintag says
Of course the under 30s will have to be Old Etonians. For as I have mentioned before, the OE's are taking over the world. From the Prime Minister of Thailand, to the mayor of London; the sexiest man in America to a double barrelled Chef; the next PM of the UK and his many followers ...[Editor: What are you going on about?]

So the upshot is, the liberal champagners have had their chance. Now it is back to how it should be. Run by people who have done it all before.

telegraph says " British economy is on the brink "

DAVOS MAN IS FIGHTING FOR HIS SURVIVAL

timesFintag says
And I bet he is over 30 too.

INTERNATIONAL HOUSING SURVEY SAYS UK, IRELAND, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND HAVE NO AFFORDABLE MAJOR URBAN MARKETS

finfactsFintag says
If the people cannot afford it, the prices will come down. Oh dear. All those asset rich, cash poor investors will be asset poor too. As I have said many times, until prices are less than 4 times salary then the prices will come tumbling down.

Why does anyone think a million GBP house in London is acceptable when the average salary is GBP23,000? And now there is no banking sector left and bonuses are a thing of the past, it sounds to me like the under 30's should go off to Goa for a year and come back and buy up that squat in Holland Park for the price of a Starbucks Naked smoothie.

The UK is truly ...

MANAGED ACCOUNT PLATFORM JV AIMS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF INVESTOR SENTIMENT

hedge funds reviewFintag says
I used to resist running managed accounts. Thanks to Madman Madoff this is no more. Today I only offer managed accounts because investors demand nothing but transparency and nosing around my positions. This is the world we live in. Good to see motor mouth John Godden behind this new venture - he is the UK's Jim Cramer but without the TV show.

FED UP COMPANIES PLAN TO LAUNCH THEIR OWN LENDER

independentFintag says
Isn't this what Private Equity was supposed to do? But of course these leaches were just brokers who pawned banks' balance sheets. I know I put my hand up last week to run the new privatised FSA but can I be the CEO of this one too? Us hedgies are in need of leverage.

GOTTEX LOSES US$3.9B IN Q4

finalternativesFintag says
And not a Madman in sight ...just some poor Swissies wondering where it all went wrong.

TWENTY-FIVE PEOPLE AT THE HEART OF THE MELTDOWN ...

guardianFintag says
No, this is wrong. Where are the under 30 year old CDO traders, mortgage brokers, credit card addicts and handbag loving fashion victims? I bet this journalist was over 30. As usual, blinkered by age.

OBAMA PLANS MORE OVERSIGHT OF FUNDS, RATINGS FIRMS, NYT SAYS

bloombergFintag says
Words, words, words ...haven't we been here before?

ny post shouts" BLACKROCK EARNINGS OFF 84% "

reuters says " Moody's cuts New York Times rating to junk "

MORE TURMOIL AS THAIN LEAVES AFTER 'BONUSGATE'

here is the cityFintag says
Thain is the sort of person that gives the over 30's a bad name. He is the Russell Brand of the silver hairs.

HEDGE FUNDS WARY OF DISTRESSED INVESTING

dealbookFintag says
We love distressed but we don't have the bank's money to play with. It is also an area where very old people have the expertise - asset stripping requires a bulldog accountant type who can see value where others see liabilities. We just aren't up to that task.

When I first read the headline, I thought it said " Hedge Funders Wary of Undressing ". So here is me undressed: