Yesterday, a trader in London appeared during an interview on BBC and said, "I go to bed every night and dream of another recession," after pointing out, "For most traders we don't really care about having a fixed economy, having a fixed situation, our job is to make money from" the economic woes in Europe. Independent trader Alessio Rastani added, "The governments don't rule the world - Goldman Sachs rules the world." You can watch him shock the presenters here: more ›

A former trader for Swiss/Re pleaded guilty to tax evasion in a scheme where, according to the Daily News, he said "he was single and living in London when he really lived with his wife in the Village." Llewellyn Connolly was trying to avoid paying about $1 million in taxes for 2007 and 2008, but now he'll have to pay $2,642,018 in back taxes and penalties—plus pay a $350,000 fine and serve 300 hours of community service. But $3+ million and 300 hours of community service is worth not going to prison, right? more ›

There's a harrowing story in the Wall Street Journal today about a guy who's gone from ordering filet mignon at midtown's Palm Restaurant to working at their Tribeca location. No schadenfruede here; Carlos Araya, the son of a cab driver from Queens, worked his way up to become a successful crude oil trader on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The father of two young girls, he lost his job in 2007 when the financial industry got necklaced with a flaming tire. Now he's a host at The Palm. His wife went back to work as an administrative assistant; together they're pulling in $4,000 a month, but they're starting to miss mortgage payments on their Battery Park City apartment, and Araya tells the Journal, "At the end of the week, I get my paycheck and I think, 'I used to make this much in a day.'" Most awkward are the old colleagues still dining at The Palm; according to the article, "some are encouraging and offer hugs. Others sneer. 'The way they look at you, you know they're thinking negatively,' he says." And still others come in to ask if the restaurant is hiring. more ›

A vegetarian Long Island man is suing the Wall Street firm where he used to work because the boss allegedly taunted him about his dietary restrictions, incessantly calling him "gay." Twenty-eight-year-old trader Ryan Pacifico says Robert Catalanello, his boss at French financial firm Calyon in the Americas, tormented him for being a "homo" who wouldn't eat steak. Pacifico tells the Daily News, "A trading floor is certainly a manly man's world. I just never expected someone to think it's gay to be a vegetarian or to constantly poke fun at me." This from a guy who's been a vegetarian since his teenage years on Long Island? more ›

A trader for DRW Commodities on the 34th floor of 7 World Trade Center was having a late night partying at the company's offices when he was struck with a pyromaniac urge today. 24-year-old Ryan Brinkerhoff was arrested and charged with six misdemeanor counts and 12 felony counts, including arson, reckless endangerment and burglary after spraying flammable liquid on a door and some phones around the office around 3 a.m. When security cameras led Port Authority police to him, they found him inebriated and on cocaine and stopped him before he set the fluids off. A source told the Post, "He was having a party up there. He's going to wake up and be in deep shit." After being booked at the First Precinct, he laughed at photographers and asked, "Why are you guys taking my picture?" more ›

A married investment broker in his 30s is suing a midtown strip club because one of his dancers hurt him real bad--and not just emotionally. Stephen Chang, who is married and works for an unnamed investment firm, went to the Hot Lap Dance Club [really NSFW beyond the homepage] where his dancer's moves were a little too hot. more ›