Donal Griffin
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donalgriffin.bsky.social
Donal Griffin
@donalgriffin.bsky.social
Bloomberg News finance reporter in London.

Tips at [email protected]//Signal: donalgriffin.97

Stories: www.bloomberg.com/authors/AQDQOc_taYU/donal-griffin
Pinned
Wall Street banks lost $250m when they helped an unknown Ferrari-loving trader amass a $2.6b, 11,000/1 bet against US Treasuries. The bizarre story of Jan Ralph via
@bloomberg.com

www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2025-10-05/citigroup-goldman-mufg-among-banks-burned-in-2-6-billion-trade
Ferrari-Loving Trader Burned Wall Street With Bond Bet Leveraged 11,000-to-1
Citigroup and MUFG were among the firms stung by $2.6 billion trade that’s now at the heart of a London lawsuit, raising questions about client checks
www.bloomberg.com
Wall Street banks lost $250m when they helped an unknown Ferrari-loving trader amass a $2.6b, 11,000/1 bet against US Treasuries. The bizarre story of Jan Ralph via
@bloomberg.com

www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2025-10-05/citigroup-goldman-mufg-among-banks-burned-in-2-6-billion-trade
Ferrari-Loving Trader Burned Wall Street With Bond Bet Leveraged 11,000-to-1
Citigroup and MUFG were among the firms stung by $2.6 billion trade that’s now at the heart of a London lawsuit, raising questions about client checks
www.bloomberg.com
October 6, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Reposted by Donal Griffin
Scoop by Todd Gillespie & me: Citigroup hired an outside law firm to investigate a senior executive, wealth mgmt head Andy Sieg, after multiple high-level people in his division complained about his behavior. The probe is over but the bank won’t disclose its results www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Citi Investigates HR Complaints Against Wealth Head Andy Sieg
Citigroup Inc. hired law firm Paul Weiss to investigate complaints about the behavior of the bank’s wealth-management chief, Andy Sieg, who was brought on by Chief Executive Officer Jane Fraser as a h...
www.bloomberg.com
August 20, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Reposted by Donal Griffin
Is it finally the beginning of the end for Sanjeev Gupta's steel operations in the UK?

The British government is ready to step in and oversee an imminent insolvency of a crucial part of his Liberty Steel business if necessary, London’s High Court heard on Wednesday on.ft.com/3UA2WoX
UK ready to oversee insolvency of crucial part of Gupta’s Liberty Steel empire
[FREE TO READ] Government’s Official Receiver files application to appoint ‘special manager’ if business goes into liquidation
on.ft.com
August 20, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Collapse of FX broker Argentex - which lacked treasury function, confusion at highest levels over reliance on high-risk 'zero-zero' trades - has tied up one of Nigel Farage's biggest patrons.

www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-08-20/fx-brokerage-implosion-ties-up-millions-owed-to-farage-backer
FX Brokerage Implosion Ties Up Millions Owed to Farage Backer
Christopher Harborne, a little-known mogul who’s one of the biggest backers of Nigel Farage’s political ascent in the UK, seemed to have landed a bargain.
www.bloomberg.com
August 20, 2025 at 10:17 AM
Takushi Sawada, fired by Nomura after regulators found he 'spoofed' the market for Japanese govt bonds, is blogging 'toilet graffiti' to defend himself. Story via @bloomberg.com.

www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-07-01/fired-nomura-trader-in-japan-turns-to-anonymous-blog-to-defend-himself
Fired Nomura Trader Turns to ‘Toilet Graffiti’ to Argue His Case
After losing his job for spoofing, Sawada trades stocks out of a cafe in Tokyo.
www.bloomberg.com
July 2, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Blue Diamond, $2.2b Swiss hedge fund that bets on volatility, had its worst-ever month in April amid market rout triggered by Trump tariff plans. Story via @bloomberg.com.

www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-05-20/blue-diamond-fund-had-worst-ever-month-in-april-amid-tariff-rout
Blue Diamond Fund Had Worst-Ever Month in April Amid Tariff Rout
Swiss hedge fund Blue Diamond Asset Management posted its worst ever monthly result in April even after staging a partial recovery from losses triggered by US President Donald Trump’s tariff plans.
www.bloomberg.com
May 20, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Argentex, the UK FX brokerage set up to help customers manage volatile currency swings, should have taken some of its own advice…

www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-04-25/fx-broker-argentex-nearly-felled-after-zero-zero-margin-dollar-trades
FX Broker Argentex Nearly Collapsed After ‘Zero-Zero’ Margin Dollar Trades
Argentex Group Plc, the UK finance firm set up to help customers manage volatile currency swings, should have taken some of its own advice.
www.bloomberg.com
April 28, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Blue Diamond, $2.5b Swiss hedge fund that seeks profit from volatility, lost almost fifth of its value during market rout triggered by US tariff plan. Story w/Nishant Kumar via @bloomberg.com.

www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-04-08/swiss-hedge-fund-blue-diamond-falls-17-as-volatility-bets-sour
Swiss Hedge Fund Blue Diamond Falls 17% as Volatility Bets Sour
Blue Diamond Asset Management, a Swiss hedge fund that seeks to profit from volatility, lost almost a fifth of its value during the market rout triggered by US President Donald Trump’s tariff plan.
www.bloomberg.com
April 8, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Reposted by Donal Griffin
CoreWeave, the cloud computing group seeking to launch a blockbuster $32bn IPO, violated several key terms of a $7.6bn loan last year, triggering a series of so-called technical defaults.

Full details only in the FT, w/ @tabbykinder.bsky.social and @antoinegara.bsky.social on.ft.com/4c4F44x
CoreWeave triggered defaults after breaching terms on Blackstone loan
[FREE TO READ] US cloud company seeking blockbuster $32bn IPO had to remedy serious administrative errors in December
on.ft.com
March 26, 2025 at 12:01 PM
A group of Wall Street firms gathered in Istanbul on Weds for meeting with top Turkish economist, prepared for presentation about steady lira, stable rates etc. Then they glanced at their phones.

www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-03-24/wall-street-s-embrace-of-turkey-unraveled-in-just-30-minutes
Wall Street’s Embrace of Turkey Unraveled in Just 30 Minutes
When Wall Street banks and hedge funds gathered in Istanbul last Wednesday with a top Turkish economist, they were prepared to hear about the country’s improved stability. Then they glanced at their p...
www.bloomberg.com
March 24, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Reposted by Donal Griffin
More ugliness in the invoice factoring market: Artis Finance, a recently collapsed trade finance firm majority-owned by TDR Capital executives, has told its lenders that key documents it sent them “misrepresented” the health of its portfolio.

on.ft.com/3DukWvN
Failed TDR-backed finance firm ‘misrepresented’ performance
[FREE TO READ] Artis Finance told bondholders that misleading ‘amendments’ were made to key documents
on.ft.com
March 10, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Steven Mnuchin and SoftBank's Vision Fund are weighing a deal to salvage Cybereason, a onetime Silicon Valley unicorn that has lost most of its value amid boardroom turmoil. Via @bloomberg.com

www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-02-27/softbank-mnuchin-weigh-deal-to-salvage-800-million-cyber-firm
SoftBank, Mnuchin Weigh Deal to Salvage $800 Million Cyber Firm
Former US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and SoftBank Group Corp.’s Vision Fund are discussing a deal to salvage Cybereason Inc., a onetime Silicon Valley unicorn that has lost most of its value am...
www.bloomberg.com
February 27, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Reposted by Donal Griffin
Hyped fintech Stenn collapsed after lender HSBC unearthed $200m+ of 🤔 payments from a web of companies in places such as Serbia, whose names often seemed to ape those of big businesses.

Lots of 🤯 detail here, including $$$ received from the company of a villager in rural China on.ft.com/3CHRe6g
Failed fintech Stenn took millions from Serbian groups aping blue-chips
[FREE TO READ] Documents show HSBC uncovered ‘extensive and systemic’ invoice issues at UK start-up
on.ft.com
February 10, 2025 at 8:11 PM
B. Riley, the troubled investment firm, is in talks to replace Nomura as its main lender with Oaktree. Story via @bloomberg.com

www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-02-06/oaktree-in-talks-with-b-riley-to-replace-nomura-as-main-lender
LinkedIn
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lnkd.in
February 6, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Brevan Howard's main hedge fund lost 3% during 'tariff purgatory' in Jan., eroding 2024 gains and worst start to a year since Alan Howard founded it 20+ yrs ago. Latest via @bloomberg.com.

www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-02-05/brevan-howard-erases-most-of-2024-gains-as-currency-bets-sour
Brevan Howard Erases Most of 2024 Gains as Currency Bets Sour
Brevan Howard Asset Management is off to its worst start to a year since billionaire Alan Howard co-founded the macro trading firm more than two decades ago, extending a volatile phase of trading.
www.bloomberg.com
February 6, 2025 at 9:51 AM
Reposted by Donal Griffin
I spoke to vape shop owners in Louisiana, manufacturers in Texas and the world's biggest tobacco firms to report on a story which involves legal battles, regular raids and products seized at borders.

Today's @bloomberg.com Big Take:

www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...
The $22 Billion Illicit Vape Industry Is Vexing the World’s Regulators
Vapor startups are already at loggerheads with cigarette makers and the FDA. Trump’s return promises to complicate the market even further.
www.bloomberg.com
February 4, 2025 at 9:05 AM
Reposted by Donal Griffin
I've spent the last few months digging into abuses at World Bank-financed private hospitals from Uganda to the Philippines. Working with colleagues we found widespread cases of patient detention, denial of emergency care and corpse retention. Free link here: www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...
Patients Detained, Denied Care at Hospitals Funded by World Bank
Billions of taxpayer dollars invested in for-profit facilities from Africa to Asia were supposed to improve access to healthcare. But stories of abuses have piled up.
www.bloomberg.com
January 17, 2025 at 3:20 PM
B. Riley, troubled investment bank, files long-overdue 10Q filing. Reveals SEC is probing loans to founder Bryant Riley and dealings with bankrupt retail co. Franchise Group. Via @bloomberg.com

www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-01-14/b-riley-discloses-more-sec-subpoenas-to-firm-and-bryant-riley
B. Riley Discloses More SEC Subpoenas to Firm and Bryant Riley
B. Riley Financial Inc. received more demands for information from federal regulators about its dealings with now-bankrupt Franchise Group as well as a personal loan for co-founder and Chairman Bryant...
www.bloomberg.com
January 15, 2025 at 9:40 AM
Jefferies ousted team of advisers in Miami, alleging improper cash transfers, illicit communications. Another was fired for demanding payment from colleagues to stay quiet.

www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-12-19/jefferies-ousts-team-of-miami-wealth-advisers-over-improper-cash-transfers
Jefferies Ousts Team of Miami Wealth Advisers Over Improper Cash Transfers
Jefferies Financial Group Inc. ousted a team of advisers in Miami who oversee the fortunes of wealthy clients after discovering allegedly improper money transfers and off-channel communications to cov...
www.bloomberg.com
December 20, 2024 at 12:02 PM
Reposted by Donal Griffin
For years, I’ve written about the exploits of Lars Windhorst, a racy financier known for his extravagant lifestyle and history of legal troubles.

Given all our stories exposing his murky dealings, you can imagine my surprise when he agreed to be interviewed to be on camera!
youtu.be/8g9o7ISII6M?...
Lars Windhorst and H2O: scandal, spies and the superyacht | FT Film
YouTube video by Financial Times
youtu.be
December 18, 2024 at 10:03 AM
Reposted by Donal Griffin
Big news from my old financial crime beat: A British trader has been sentenced (while wearing a xmas elf hat) to 12 years in Danish prison for orchestrating a billion-dollar tax scam www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Video investigation w/ @donalgriffin.bsky.social : www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHfL...
How An Unemployed Trader Became a $700 Million Exile
YouTube video by Bloomberg Originals
www.youtube.com
December 12, 2024 at 3:48 PM
HSBC mulling cost cuts of ~$3bn as bank restructures its global operations. Latest here w/ @harrynwilson.bsky.social via @bloomberg.com on the reorganization of Europe’s largest financial group.

www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-12-11/hsbc-s-ceo-eyes-3-billion-in-potential-savings-from-overhaul
HSBC’s CEO Eyes $3 Billion in Potential Savings from Overhaul
HSBC Holdings Plc is examining plans that could cut costs by at least $3 billion as it continues to restructure its worldwide operations under new Chief Executive Officer Georges Elhedery.
www.bloomberg.com
December 11, 2024 at 10:49 AM
Stenn, a supply-chain finance firm backed by Wall St. giants, collapsed after HSBC found multiple potentially fraudulent transactions.

www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-12-10/hsbc-raised-fraud-alarm-that-sparked-collapse-of-fintech-stenn
HSBC Raised Fraud Alarm That Sparked Collapse of Fintech Stenn
A finance firm backed by several influential Wall Street investors collapsed last week after HSBC Holdings Plc discovered some of the company’s transactions may have been fraudulent.
www.bloomberg.com
December 10, 2024 at 1:09 PM
Nomura dismissed a senior trader named Takushi Sawada after regulators found that he had arranged the manipulative transactions that have tipped the firm into scandal. Latest via @bloomberg.com

www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-12-06/nomura-fired-bond-trader-sawada-after-japanese-spoofing-probe
Nomura Fired Bond Trader Sawada After Japanese Spoofing Probe
Nomura Holdings Inc., Japan’s biggest brokerage, dismissed senior trader Takushi Sawada after regulators concluded that he had arranged the manipulative transactions that have tipped the firm into sca...
www.bloomberg.com
December 6, 2024 at 8:44 AM
Reposted by Donal Griffin
Ireland goes to the polls today, the Bloomberg Dublin bureau takes a look at what is at stake.
Ireland’s Election Looks a Tight Race as Harris Honeymoon Ends
Ireland goes to the polls today in a vote that looks closer than previously expected after prime minister Simon Harris lost the momentum that motivated him to call the the snap general election just t...
www.bloomberg.com
November 29, 2024 at 8:17 AM