A recession is looming, but for JPMorgan's Jamie Dimon all signs point toward business as usual when it comes to hiring and tech spend
Welcome back! It's Dan DeFrancesco checking in from NYC. Here's hoping you had a good weekend.
We've got podcast and book recommendations from people who are probably more successful than you, a New York Times critic dunking on finance-bro fashion, and part 3,109 of the Elon-Twitter drama.
But first, how did those bank earnings go?
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1. Jamie won't back down. Before we kick things off, let's give a quick recap on the state of play with bank earnings. In summary, it's been a mixed bag.
JPMorgan beat analysts' predictions, but saw a drop in its net income. Citigroup had better-than-expected results, but fell a bit short in some of its trading divisions. Wells Fargo also largely beat analysts' estimates, but the bank had to set aside $2 billion for legal and regulatory issues, which was a bit of a buzzkill. Bank of America also beat projections but its net income slid. Meanwhile, Morgan Stanley missed on most estimates entirely.
Numbers only tell part of the story, though. Earnings calls offer a chance for analysts to dive a bit deeper, with some putting executives feet to the fire (we see you, Mike Mayo).
And for JPMorgan's Jamie Dimon, the message was largely one of confidence.
Dimon doesn't typically mince words on earnings calls. Once, when asked about fintech competition, he said, "I expect to win. So help me, God."
But Dimon, who earlier this month predicted a recession within a year, was nonplussed when asked if the bank would slow hiring plans.
His response was a curt, "No."
Another question about whether JPMorgan would change its strategy when it came to investing in tech, consumer, and international banking elicited a similar response. The plans JPMorgan laid out in May around its tech spend were "pretty much on track," Dimon said.
And with that, Dimon seemingly said the most without saying much at all.
Read more about Dimon's outlook during JPMorgan's earnings call.
In other news:
2. Goldman Sachs is undergoing a major reorganization — again. Per the WSJ, Goldman will fold its investment-banking and trading businesses into one unit. It will also combine its asset and wealth management groups, and the bank's troubled consumer-banking arm Marcus — which Insider has covered extensively — will become part of that unit. Here's the latest.
3. Speaking of earnings, Morgan Stanley's James Gorman is predicting a 'washout' among fintech valuations and it could lead to one of Wall Street's favorite things: consolidation. The bank's CEO said founders need to come to terms with the fact their valuations from 2021 are long gone.
4. Honey, that browser extension you have that helps you find coupons, is a key part of a massive revamp of PayPal's cash-back rewards program. The payments giant bought the browser extension in 2019 for $4 billion, and views this new tool as a way to finally showcase the tech.
5. Have you heard of this podcast? This question is usually unprompted and followed by something you don't care about, but we actually have a good selection of books and podcasts from our rising stars of Wall Street. So tell your buddy Dave you are all set, and instead check out what successful, smart people are reading and listening to these days.
6. Here's a great piece where a critic for The New York Times makes fun of what you're probably wearing right now. Guy Trebay asks the question, "How should a business bro dress?" in this story examining what the average finance bro wears based on a few afternoons spent at Brookfield Place.
7. Krogers announced plans to scoop up Albertsons in a $24.6 billion deal among supermarket giants, and providing a lifeline in what has been an absolute debacle of a year for M&A bankers. Citi and Wells Fargo advised Kroger while Goldman Sachs and Credit Suisse (don't call it a comeback!) worked with Albertsons.
8. Just when you thought the Elon Musk-Twitter deal couldn't get any more fun, the feds have now gotten involved. Twitter requested correspondence between Musk and federal authorities be handed over to the company in a court filing released last week, suggesting the folks in windbreakers have be in touch with the eccentric billionaire.
9. The people tasked with regulating businesses are also investing in them, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal. Senior officials at the Federal Trade Commission owned and traded stock in companies that were also in the midst of reviews and investigations by the regulator. Because remember, all animals are created equal, but some animals are more equal than others.
10. Finally, I'll just leave you with this guide to the best way to survive if a nuclear weapon is about to explode. Not trying to jinx us or anything, but you can never be too careful.
Keep updated with the latest business news throughout your day by checking out The Refresh from Insider, a dynamic audio news brief. Listen here.
Edited by Jeffrey Cane (@jeffrey_cane) and Lisa Ryan (@lisarya) in New York.