">Forum Views ()
">Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Madoff pyramid fraud puts US finance system in spotlight
Navigation
Primary Navigation
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Secondary Navigation
Search
Search:
Madoff pyramid fraud puts US finance system in spotlight
AFP - 39 minutes ago
LONDON (AFP) - - Financial commentators let loose on the US financial system Tuesday as more firms announced losses in the suspected multi-billion-dollar swindle run by ex-Wall Street heavyweight Bernard Madoff.
Four Japanese financial firms joined the growing list of those caught up in the scandal that already includes some of the world's largest banks.
Aozora Bank said its exposure might amount to 12.4 billion yen (137 million dollars, 101,000 million euros).
Several Japanese insurers, including Nipponkoa Insurance Co. and Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Co., also said they might have lost money, while Daiwa Securities Group said was caught up in the alleged scam.
The latter three firms stressed, however, that their losses were expected to be at most several hundred million yen -- relatively small sums compared to the sums announced by some major banks on Monday.
Spain's biggest bank Santander announced exposure of more than three billion dollars to Madoff Investment Securities in New York, sending its shares plunging.
"The supposed meticulous supervision by the SEC has failed in the task of preventing massive fraud," Spanish newspaper El Pais said Tuesday.
"It must asked how it is possible that no one had detected anything abnormal about his (Madoff's) activities," said the newspaper La Vanguardia.
"Neither the assessment agencies nor the auditors nor the stock market authorities were capable of noticing that the high profits that were being offered were based on a pure pyramid system."
Madoff was arrested Thursday and allegedly confessed to defrauding investors of 50 billion dollars in a scam that collapsed after clients asked for their money back due to the global financial crisis.
Global finance giants have admitted huge potential losses in the suspected pyramid fraud scam run by the 70-year-old Wall Street veteran.
US authorities allege that Madoff delivered consistently strong returns to clients by secretly using the principal investment from new investors for payments to other investors.
US Vice President Dick Cheney said in a radio interview Monday that the alleged scam by the former Nasdaq chairman was "very disturbing" and blamed a few "bad apples."
But Dominique Strauss-Kahn, director general of the International Monetary Fund, expressed shock Monday that US regulators failed to spot the red flags.
British investment fund Bramdean Alternatives Limited, which revealed it had invested about 31.2 million dollars in Madoff's company, also said the scandal raised "fundamental questions" about the US financial regulatory system.
Other big losers included Britain's HSBC , the world's third-biggest bank by market capitalisation, and the Dutch Bank Fortis. Both said they had exposure of about 1.0 billion dollars.
A string of other European banks have announced investments in the tens and sometimes hundreds of millions of dollars with Madoff.
Prosecutors say Madoff hid his illegal business on a separate floor of the Manhattan building housing his company's booming brokerage arm.
The accounts for the multi-billion dollar enterprise were handled at a tiny, obscure accountancy firm in New City, New York state.
The Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC), which provides a Congress-authorized special reserve fund to help investors at failed brokerage firms, said Monday it was liquidating the Madoff company .
"It is clear that the customers of the Madoff firm need the protections available under federal law," said a statement from Stephen Harbeck, SIPC president and CEO.
Madoff's greatest asset appears to have been his insider credentials.
He was a prominent member of the securities industry throughout a career stretching back to 1960, serving as vice chairman of the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD) and sitting on the board of governors.
He was also a member of NASDAQ Stock Market's board of governors, its executive committee and served as chairman of its trading committee, according to a statement from the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Madoff reportedly played golf at exclusive clubs like Old Oaks outside New York and Palm Beach Country Club in Florida, owned three homes and a yacht in the Bahamas.
But he also had a reputation as a philanthropist, donating generously to Jewish and pro-Israeli charities.
Email Story
IM Story
Printable View
Blog This
Recommend this article
Average (0 votes)
Sign in to recommend this article »
Most Recommended Stories »
Enlarge Photo
The London office of Madoff Investment Securities International Limited. Financial commentators let loose on the US financial system Tuesday as more firms announced losses in the suspected multi-billion-dollar swindle run by ex-Wall Street heavyweight Bernard Madoff.
Most Popular – Top Stories
Viewed
Bush laughs off Iraq flying shoes drama
Madoff pyramid fraud puts US finance system in spotlight
Arabs hail shoe attack as Bush's farewell gift
Actress Jennifer Aniston appears naked in GQ magazine
Oil falls after brief surge above 50 dollars
View Complete List »
Search:
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Other News on Tuesday, 16 December 2008
Confinement nanny agencies looking to hire more locals
MFA welcomes direct air, sea, postal links across Taiwan Strait
Bird flu confirmed in eastern India
Record 10,000 wishing spheres to be lit during New Year’s Eve countdown
black88box.awardspace.com
black88box.awardspace.com
Bush's Iraq-Afghan farewell tour marred by dissent
Secondary One posting results to be released on December 18
Lye, boric acid banned as food additives in China
Report: Naomi Watts, Liev Schreiber welcome a son
Tyler Perry, Mary J. Blige to be honored by BET
Mobile phone to be main Web tool in 2020: survey
More ex—national footballers upgrading to better prepare for a second career
Iraqis demand release of shoe-hurling journalist
Modesty cast aside as Russia fetes Miss World win
James Gray to get Joaquin Phoenix 'out of retirement'
Inspector Derrick actor dies in Germany
Pakistan: No British access to Mumbai suspects
Gov't: 40 Taliban killed in Afghan-NATO operation
`American Idol' tweaks hit format for 8th season
Madonna's ex set to get $75 million in settlement
Pakistan rejects British request to grill Mumbai suspects: PM
Maddona settles divorce for 50M pounds ($76M)
Google reaffirms commitment to net neutrality
Two killed in suspected US missile strike in Pakistan: official
Israel frees 224 Palestinians, including groom
Thai opposition leader becomes prime minister
'Take my dog! He looks like David Bowie!'
Ex-`Sopranos' actor takes stand at murder trial
Web or sex? Nearly half of women would rather go online
Franklin show goes on after she misses award event
SCRABBLE maker Hasbro drops lawsuit over online word game
Cruise says he regrets 'glib' outburst on 'Today'
Blogger pleads guilty to G N' R leak
Nathan Lane, Bill Irwin head 'Godot' cast
Keanu Reeves sci-fi movie tops North America box office
US auto woes mean trouble for Japanese makers, too
More layoffs in publishing: This time at Macmillan
Bethlehem gears up for a busy Christmas
'Gypsy' moves up its B'way closing date to Jan. 11
Hospital music therapy room named for AC/DC singer
Rights group: Iraqi court falls short on fairness
German vows neo-Nazi crackdown after police stabbing
Israeli high court restricts West Bank barrier
Russian teenage gang jailed for racist murders
Oil falls after brief surge above 50 dollars
Tough corruption battle in Asia despite campaigns
| International
|
Arabs hail shoe attack as Bush's farewell gift
US: Detainee dies in US custody in Iraq
Crisis a word best spoken quietly in Russia
| International
|
Relatives cheer freed Palestinian prisoners
U.N.'s Ban urges stronger African unity on Zimbabwe
| International
|
UN official missing in Niger: government
Somali parliament backs prime minister, rift grows
| International
|
Rice says US, South Korea agree on nuclear talks
U.N. envoy missing in Niger: U.N. officials
| International
|
Thai opposition leader becomes prime minister
New 'Phantom' movie to be filmed in Australia
France's jailbreak king gets 17-year sentence
| International
|
Toshiba to cut memory chip output: report
Obama announces energy and environment team
Smokers can sue over 'light cigarettes': US court
Seoul shares open down after US losses; banks fall
Yahoo unveils new toolbar for Web browsing
| Technology
|
US pyramid fraud scam hits Europe's biggest banks
Google says plan would not threaten net neutrality
| Technology
|
JBS-Swift exports to S.Korea from Greeley halted
Nobel laureate urges Iran to release Blogfather
| Technology
|
World stocks pressured by scandal, uncertainty
Palm replaces CFO with eBay veteran
| Technology
|
S.Korea department store sales turn higher in Nov
Angola president off to China in search of investment
Oil falls after brief surge above 50 dollars
China loses appeal against WTO car parts ruling
Three-month decline in gas prices stalls briefly
Orascom Telecom starts mobile services in N. Korea
Madonna settles divorce for up to $92 million
| Entertainment
|
OPEC wild cards: Size of output cuts, Russian help
US auto woes spell trouble for Japanese makers too
Oil price surges past $50 per barrel in New York
Tom Cruise says he was arrogant in TV interview
| Entertainment
|
GLOBAL MARKETS-World equities rise, oil jumps ahead of OPEC
Hollywood sleuth Pellicano gets 15 years in prison
| Entertainment
|
Kuwait: OPEC inclined to cut production
German actor Tappert, star of Derrick, dies at 85
| Entertainment
|
Jack Black to guest-star on `The Office'
Women barred from selling Mary Pickford Oscar: court
Reeves has good box-office 'Day' with $30M debut
Jury rules Pickford agreement is valid
Migrant workers at sharp end of US economic crunch
Philippine ferry rescuers battle strong waves
UN ministerial meeting on Iranian nuclear program
Pakistan truckers refuse to haul NATO, US supplies
Bangladeshi 'Taj Mahal' owner slams critics
New Zealand refuses to back down on Fiji sanctions
Dennis Quaid, wife, settle with hospital
Singapore PSA Jan-Nov container traffic up 8.8 pct
Drug smugglers using Singapore for transit-report
Japan court to rule on British hostess slaying
Bollywood looks to make drama out of real-life tragedy
Japan, Australia to hold security talks
Yahoo's free email gets more social
NZ diplo faces Fiji expulsion in sanctions dispute
Judge sentences Hollywood private eye to 15 years
New Thai PM faces deep divisions, poor economy
RPT-GLOBAL MARKETS-Dlr weighed down before Fed, Asia stocks dip
Singapore says 2008 growth to be lower than 2.5pct
Nicole Kidman warned after breaking Aboriginal taboo: report
Goa's party season low-key after Mumbai attacks
Pakistan: US missile strike suspected in 2 deaths
Betrayal in Palm Beach as Wall Street scam bites
Asia beauty contest vote count was 'wrong': report
Economic crisis means brisk business for Spanish pawnshops
Singapore to convene wage council, may cut pensions
Australian couple loses home via Facebook
Weather forecast for the Asia-Pacific region
New Thai government to prioritise economy: ruling party
About 90 percent of all email is spam: Cisco
Israeli troops kill militant in West Bank
Quartet says U.S.-led Mideast talks irreversible
| International
|
Mumbai attacks caps year for citizen journalism: NowPublic
Israeli troops kill wanted Palestinian militant
Amnesty warns against 'potentially lethal' Tasers
Facebook used to find defendants in Australian court case
Fed eyes record low interest rates to battle deflation
Zimbabwe commander wounded in shooting: report
| International
|
Six powers, Arabs to discuss Iran nuclear issue
| International
|
Yemen arrests tribesmen over German hostages
| International
|
Private eye in Hollywood wiretap trial gets 15 yrs
Japan serial rapist sentenced to life
S.Korea Mirae to close Singapore unit, focus on HK
Apple U.S. Mac sales flat in November
| Technology
|
Obama unveils climate change team
ASEAN signs trade agreements to ward off slowdown
Obama unveils climate change team
Pakistan: US missile strike suspected in 2 deaths
Virgin Media rolls out superfast broadband
| Technology
|
Asian markets mixed, awaiting US Fed decision
Illinois moves to oust corruption-tainted governor
Rolex appeal fades as recession blues hit Singapore
Pakistan rupee down 1.7 pct on negative sentiment
Philippines declares Christmas cease-fire
Louis Vuitton cancels plan for Tokyo flagship store
Malaysia to protect witnesses in graft fight
Motorola wins China Telecom network upgrade work
| Technology
|
Pakistani shares fall; rupee weakens 1.7 pct
Female cyclist killed in road accident involving an SBS bus
Seoul shares end higher as autos, banks advance
SanDisk to cut production at facilities in Japan
| Technology
|
Protesters on bicycles defy Malaysia police
Oil prices steady at $44 ahead of OPEC meeting
Korea Hot Stocks- Eugene Inv, Hyundai Dept rise
Indian defense chief: no plans for military action
Isuzu, Toyota shelve development of clean diesel engine
Oil steady at $44 ahead of OPEC meeting
More than 130 Hollywood stars oppose strike vote
| Entertainment
|
SKorea slashes 2009 growth to three percent
Fox Reality is wed to Househusbands
| Entertainment
|
Japan Tobacco to scrap five overseas plants
S.Korean car exports seen falling 6 pct in 2009
Sharon Osbourne accused of Charm School fight
| Entertainment
|
Judge sentences Hollywood private eye to 15 years
Japanese toy craze Bakugan headed to big screen
| Entertainment
|
Egypt: no country for old maids
Rush on Denmark's prized Christmas tree expected despite crisis
Feds say Follieri agrees he owes $3.6 million
China still open to Tibet dialogue: govt
Tokyo businessman convicted of abducting British hostess
Philippines jobless ranks grow as economy slows
HSBC sees 10 pct Taiwan workforce reduction
Protests heat up over Australia's climate plan
China bans 17 harmful substances in food: govt
Tom Cruise taking risk with new film `Valkyrie'
Philippine rescuers search for 29 ferry passengers
Bangladesh celebrates 37 years of independence
George Lam, Sally Yeh living separately
New Thai government mulls cabinet as police stand guard
Eason Chen out to clinch the Top 10 awards again
Alec Su denies comeback of Little Tiger
Australia OKs Facebook for serving lien notice
China issues guidelines for ethnic harmony classes
Yuming & Jane Becoming a Couple
China won't rush to depreciate yuan -Barclays
India not planning to attack Pakistan: minister
Bangladesh prepares to lift state of emergency
Study shows Singapore safe from tsunamis
ASEAN nations press on with trade pacts
Bird flu found in chickens in eastern China
Afghan police: 3 die in checkpoint clash
Lucie Blackman's Tokyo abductor gets life sentence
S.Korea Hyundai Eng wins $334 mln Singapore order
S’pore and Indian Air Forces conduct joint military exercise in India
Indonesia urges resumption of world trade talks
Vendor sells Bradman 'Invincibles' cricket tour cap -- for loss
Australian activists deride PM's emissions targets
US hands over last female detainees in Iraq
Syria's Assad seeks Israeli stance on Golan: sources
| International
|
Dynamite found in Paris department store
Security Council set to back push for Middle East peace
Explosives found in Paris store after warning
| International
|
Ukraine parties sign coalition deal
Iraqi police: Bomb in downtown Baghdad wounds 6
Explosives defused in Paris department store: police
Madoff pyramid fraud puts US finance system in spotlight
Italian police arrest 100 in mafia sweep: report
Zimbabwe warns of 'terror' plot after air force chief shot
Dissident Tuareg rebel group says holding U.N. envoy
| International
|
Somali president names new prime minister
Somalia's fractured government slides into chaos
| International
|
ASEAN signs trade agreements to ward off slowdown
| International
|
Iraqi justice to probe case of Bush shoe assailant
Italy pursues 100 mobsters in anti-Mafia swoop
| International
|
Sri Lanka says 145 killed in northern fighting
Niger Tuareg rebel group claims kidnap of UN official
Over 2T tons of ice melted in arctic since '03
Japan man guilty of abducting, not killing Briton
| International
|
MM Lee says East Asia will be where the action is in next 50 years
JFK daughter confirms bid to enter Senate: governor
Japan workers protest massive wave of job cuts
Sarkozy: Others must match EU climate change cuts
Ex-Vodafone CEO won't pursue Yahoo job: FT
| Technology
|
ICA uncovers S$305k worth of duty—unpaid cigarettes
HK stocks rise amid China rate cut hopes
Sri Lanka says 2 rebels killed in fight for town
Obama selects green energy, environment team
Citigroup to sell Japanese trust banking unit
Metallica, Pearl Jam get their games on
| Technology
|
Indian defense chief: no plans for military action
HSBC says to cut 300 jobs in Taiwan
China critic who signed rights charter still held
North East CDC sees 25% spike in number of walk—ins looking for jobs
AirAsia offers 100,000 free tickets to Thailand
China says within rights to block some websites
| Technology
|
Sculpture of "10 Sages of the World" unveiled at MDIS
Taiwan says to support struggling DRAM industry
South Korea sets ambitious growth target for 2009
Oil rises to $45 ahead of OPEC meeting
Indonesia may scrap plans to tag AIDS patients
Pakistan sets 10 bln rupee target for Islamic bond
OPEC set for major output cut later this week
Talent to get more time on American Idol
| Entertainment
|
Rourke's Oscar campaign too much of a good thing?
| Entertainment
|
Dave Matthews Band kicking off tour in April
| Entertainment
|
Cheech and Chong get animated for movie
| Entertainment
|
Metallica, Pearl Jam get their games on
| Entertainment
|
Arena Football League tackled by recession
| Entertainment
|
Singapore's Keppel to scrap 140 mln euro contract
Philippine rescuers search for 26 ferry passengers
Mumbai's attacked hotels to reopen this weekend
Peace process with Pakistan put on 'pause': Indian minister