By: Andreas Loizou

Paperback

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This is the ultimate insider's tale of how international finance really operates.

This controversial first person account details the ins and outs of global finance. Over 20 years the author has enjoyed privileged access to many of the world's top players in money. In this book he reveals the schemes and techniques they use to conjure up enormous sums of money, whilst explaining how international finance operates: from how financial products work and what they are, to what financiers and money players actually do.

Andy Loizou trained as a Chartered Accountant (PWC) then in equity analysis (UK banks) at Goldman Sachs. His training career began in 1999 and he has taught with FT Knowledge. He has a 1st class degree in English Literature and Linguistics from Leeds and a M. Phil in Modernist Literature from St Catherine's College, Cambridge. He edited The International Encyclopaedia of the Stock Market (Chicago, 1999) and has written widely in the Times, Evening Standard and FT. He now runs a training company called Learnflow.

"This is a fast-paced and instructive read that is hard to put down. The ending does not disappoint, culminating in something just short of a financial revolution." Hedge Funds Review, April 2012 'Filled with suspense and intrigue as well as spot on explanations of financial market products, this is clear, concise, funny and entertaining. A perfect way to learn what goes on in finance'. Patricia Sparacio, Managing Director, New York Institute of Finance 'A fast paced story with telling lessons in investment and finance. This is a thoroughly enjoyable way of learning the basics and more'. Alexander Davidson, financial journalist and author 'An unbiased and feasible tale of the contemporary market dealings. It highlights the ease with which illicit activities can be concealed, and greed can overcome sense'. MHC Russell DL FCT " it is an engrossing read, with liberal helpings of wit and intrigue. Most importantly, it is an excellent tool for beginners in finance as it explains the jargon and the myriad concepts involved in the world of money. Helpful case studies are strategically placed throughout the book. Neither do these educational asides impede the narrative, or distract from it . Loizou was aiming for "an insider's tale" and a "guidebook". Arguably, he has squarely hit the target on both counts." Calum Fuller, Financial World, 1st March 2012 "The writing style is completely different to any other financial title I have ever read, it being part novel, part primer on the financial markets. Explanations of government bonds, compounded interest and shares in luxury hotel companies are interspersed with stories of a former finance lecturer travelling throughout the world's financial centres, getting involved with government agents and searching for his missing millionaire former student who has been accused of fraud . A very enjoyable and highly readable book which is good enough to get through in one sitting." Richard Gill, UK-Analyst, March 2012

How it All Began Part One One way ticket Chapter 1 From Zurich to disaster Analyse this Henry Blodgett The rules of compounding Gains and losses Who chooses equities, and why Chapter 2 Taking risks What's risk? Warren Buffet and the Dalai Lama IOU Company specific risk Luxuries and necessities Five destroyed brands Chapter 3 The leap of faith Risk and return Safety and danger Hero and villain - Jerome Kerviel Buys and sells The sad case of Millwall Holdings Part Two Welcome to the jungle Chapter 4 Damn clients The trading floor Proprietary trading How an investment bank makes money It's raining middlemen Bernie Madoff Primary and secondary market Chapter 5 An equitable solution Shares and bonds contrasted Income, profit and loss Earnings per share Dividend yield Market capitalisation P/E ratio Growth stocks and value stocks The Google growth story Front, back and middle Chapter 6 Promises, promises What goes up must come down The time value of money Inflation, opportunity cost, borrower risk Discounting Insider trading Bonfire of the Vanities and Wall Street Control Chapter 7 Very interesting, Mr Bond Maturity and principals Bonds and shares compared Ratings measure risk, usually What you need to know about rating agencies Safety and Control From triple A to single, solitary D Chapter 8 Chinese walls come tumbling down Deal toys George Soros Income and profit Front running Private equity Every Mistake Imaginable Sting stung EBIT doh! Music and finance Behind the wall The burnt out agent

ISBN: 9780273757979
ISBN-10: 0273757970
Series: Financial Times Series
Audience: General
Format: Paperback
Language: English
Number Of Pages: 312
Published: 14th March 2012
Dimensions (cm): 21.6 x 13.8  x 1.6
Weight (kg): 0.384