Chapter 925: Business as Usual (4k)

Lehman loses lifeline from Britain.

This allowed Fang Zhuo to put down his last worries.

The economic downturn is not easy for anyone. Barclays Bank, please don't cause trouble.

Due to the time difference, in order to spend the last long time with Lehman, Fang Zhuo, accompanied by Huo Qigang, appeared at the Christie's auction house in Hong Kong on the weekend night, and spent 15 million to buy a painting of Wen Zhengming's "South China Sutra" in small regular script.

Later, he even appreciated the original work of Huizong of the Song Dynasty, "The Calligraphy of the Virgin Mary of Lintang Huaisu" that the Huo family specially invited from their friends. This is a copy of the calligraphy of the great calligrapher Huaisu by Song Huizong. It was auctioned in April this year. A sky-high price of HK$128 million.

Fang Zhuo really likes calligraphy.

When this love was expressed in words, "Lin Tang Huaisu's Mother's Notes" became a favor and was transferred at the original price.

Fang Zhuo hesitated for a while, but he still felt that it was enough to satisfy his eyesight.

Although Huo Qigang is a young man from the Huo family, he has socialized with him before. They met frequently during the Beijing Olympics in August. He also has a girlfriend who is an Olympic champion, so communication with each other is more casual.

He could tell that Mr. Fang was really tempted, the kind of person who just bought it after saying it.

"Mr. Fang, if you regret it, I can still go in and help you take it out." Huo Qigang was still talking about this when he saw Mr. Fang out of the house.

Fang Zhuo sighed: "Oh, I really like it, but I have a principle when it comes to shopping."

Huo Qigang listened curiously.

"When the time I spent hesitating was not enough for me to earn the money to buy something, I would not buy it." Fang Zhuo was not without regrets. "Lin Tang Huai Su's Madonna's Calligraphy" is elegant and smart. It is really a calligraphy treasure and a rare one. .

Huo Qigang never expected that it would be such a measure. If he wasted Mr. Fang's time, a sports car would disappear.

Fang Zhuo glanced at Huo Qigang a little sadly. Maybe if he had seen this word a day or two later, the result would have been completely different.

Huo Qigang put aside the slightly weird feeling in his heart and made a joke that he never thought he could make with the richest man in the mainland: "Mr. Fang, that man makes good money, there will be opportunities in the future."

Fang Zhuo laughed loudly and said with emotion: "Yes, we still have to work harder to make money."

The car has arrived.

He said goodbye: "I am satisfied that I can see the authentic works of Song Huizong tonight. Come to Shencheng to be my guest when you have time."

Huo Qigang responded and waved goodbye to Mr. Fang.

Fang Zhuo, who got in the car, was still thinking about the calligraphy treasures in his heart. He had been waiting for the latest information compiled by his secretary for a long time.

He flipped through it casually, but was still struggling in various ways.

However, the reason why the acquisition of the British bank Barclays was rejected is also the reason why various Wall Street institutions are wary. If they step in to save Lehman at this time, is their own safety safe enough?

Even if one Rayman is saved, will there be Fengman, Yuman, or Dianman behind?

And, is there a great risk that financial markets with increasing turmoil will be ignited by Taman?

In the first half of this year, the unprecedented CDS termination reduced CDS trading volume by US$17.4 trillion, and American International Group, a large US insurance company, has been holding a large number of CDS positions, making various institutions extremely worried about CDS risk exposure.

The information in Fang Zhuo's hands came from different sources, including the New York Stock Exchange, the Big Short, and the MIGA Fund. They all used different data and reasons to look down on Lehman's final struggle at this time.

This can be regarded as a small microcosm of market confidence.

Fang Zhuo was running through various financial data and analysis judgments in his mind along the way, but as he approached the hotel, he considered the deeper impact of economic changes.

It is now September, and the situation of this year's election in the United States has been laid out. It is either a Republican McCain or a democratic Olympics.

Although O'Brien defeated Hillary Clinton, he still trails McCain in this month's polls.

At this time, the turmoil caused by Lehman's death will undoubtedly intensify people's expectations for "change."

It is worth mentioning that McCain admitted during the pre-election that he did not understand the economy very well. He relied on his richer political experience. The economic team was Greenspan, whose reputation has been reduced. He complained that the public lacked confidence in the economy and resigned because of it. Gram is Fiorina, the female CEO of Hewlett-Packard - the CEO who openly said on TV that McCain can be the boss but is not good at being a big company has also disappeared.

The economic advisers on Xiao O's side... Rubin and Summers, who contributed to the economic prosperity during the Clinton era, and former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker, who have been fully recognized for their anti-inflation achievements in the last era, They can all be called economists.

In addition, Fang Zhuo is very sure that Geithner is also from Xiao Ou, and Paulson on the stage has a lot to do with these names.

If Lehman hadn't died at this point in September, could Xiao O have successfully made a counterattack in November?

Fang Zhuo thought about this problem and felt that it was a factor to some extent. As for what kind of smooth flow and taking advantage of the situation, it would be difficult to piece together the outline.

He just suddenly had a deeper understanding of "the economic base determines the superstructure."

“I found that being able to make money was a really valuable skill.”

Seeing the hotel, Fang Zhuo put down the documents and thoughts in his mind and let out a sigh.

Secretary Liu Zonghong heard the boss's sudden voice and echoed with some surprise: "Of course, Mr. Fang."

Fang Zhuo smiled and said, "Did Austin call?"

Liu Zonghong shook his head and said, "No."

I don’t know if Geithner suddenly felt uncomfortable or got into a more busy state. After the previous call that was hung up, not only him, but also his spokesperson Austin, who was keen on delivering first-hand information, was silent.

Fang Zhuo didn’t have any extra worries about this. In the next period of time, making money is a valuable ability, and having money is also a rare resource.

Geithner had a good idea about Lehman’s toxic assets before.

This change in the situation will soon give him a chance to help get money to detoxify.

“Don’t bother me before noon tomorrow. I want to study Wen Zhengming’s calligraphy.” Fang Zhuo calculated the time difference between the two places and instructed his secretary.

Liu Zonghong knew what his boss was waiting for and nodded silently.

The night was deep.

I don’t know how much information was being transmitted around the world, and I don’t know how many people were in panic, anger, and fear.

When a new day arrived in Hong Kong, the head of Lehman stood at the door of the Lehman headquarters building at 1 a.m. on the 15th in New York and announced the board’s decision to the media that Lehman Brothers Investment Company applied to the federal government for bankruptcy protection Act No. 11.

From this moment on, Lehman became the largest investment bank bankruptcy in the history of the United States.

The shocking news made the world boil!

Because it was still early in the morning in the United States, it was Huaxia A, which was in the afternoon, that gave an immediate response.

A plummeted 4.5%, on the verge of 2,000 points... Huh?

2,000 points? ?

That's right, before the financial crisis caused by Lehman, A had already fallen almost as the global economic situation did.

Last year, A once rushed to 6,124 points, and this year it was 5,499 points in January, and then it fell all the way, breaking 5, looking at 4, and looking at 3 to 2.

Even if the financial crisis swept in, it would only fall a few hundred points at most and then stop falling.

In contrast, Hong Kong stocks, which fluctuated with the US stock market, fell 6%, causing various institutions to wail!

Lehman filed for bankruptcy!

The US authorities did not come up with a solution! They just sat back and watched Lehman go bankrupt!

From south to north, from west to east, Fuld's official announcement broke the general belief that the US government would not let it go! Market concerns have intensified! Major rating agencies have all begun to assess this emergency!

Fang Zhuo, who is in Hong Kong, can no longer appreciate Wen Zhengming's calligraphy.

He carefully put away the calligraphy and began to work after Lehman filed for bankruptcy.

Kong Yu's call was the first to come in after the official announcement. It was still early in the morning on his side. He didn't plan to sleep tonight. Lehman's wave was both in the logic of short selling and unexpectedly reached the point of bankruptcy.

MIGA Fund's funds for the two housing agencies have been closed, and Lehman has waited until the end.

Kong Yu begged his boss to consider whether he could fly to the United States.

He was both making money and afraid. Although he used various nesting, mortgage guarantees, and customer relationships to cover up the direction of funds, it was difficult to penetrate the relationship between different companies and funds, but the scale involved was too large and he really didn't feel safe.

"Don't worry, your clients will protect you." Fang Zhuo was very sure of this. Besides, now everyone is busy dealing with the impact of Lehman's bankruptcy, and there are short-selling funds like John Paulson blocking the way. The little bit that MIGA fund has gained will not attract too much attention.

He added: "Wait a few days for stability before I go to the United States. Let's see what happens first."

There is a time difference between Hong Kong and the United States, which is sometimes not very convenient. It is better to go to the scene in person, so as not to miss the opportunity to be a vulture.

Kong Yu took a deep breath. The boss would not be afraid of danger, right?

After the call with Kong Yu ended, he soon received a call from Geithner.

Calculating the time, Geithner's indifference lasted for 32 hours, which was really not short.

His call was very simple, and there was only one purpose, which was to get Mr. Fang to come to the United States.

Fang Zhuo said the same thing even when facing Geithner - let's see what happens first.

What will happen...

New York time, on September 15, the Dow Jones Industrial Average plummeted more than 500 points, a drop of more than 4.4%, and other global stock markets were also affected by the decline.

Soon, all major rating agencies downgraded the credit rating of American International Group (AIG), which held a large number of CDS positions, and these downgrades triggered a large number of collateral requirements from counterparties of AIG's financial products department, and led to the early termination of additional contracts.

A storm sweeping the world is inevitable.

Fang Zhuo didn't sleep well in Hong Kong at night, and frequently received calls from different directions.

By the time the US stock market experienced the first round of impact, it was already the next morning in Hong Kong.

Fang Zhuo had breakfast and considered the itinerary.

At 7 o'clock, a call came in from Luo Jianhua, the head of Qimonda.

"Mr. Fang, Mr. Fang." Luo Jianhua's tone was rather anxious. "I don't know what happened to Mr. Xiong. All the conditions we had previously discussed were overturned. They said there was no need to discuss them anymore! Isn't this playing a trick on Qimonda!"

"Can you communicate with Mr. Xiong? We can discuss anything!"

"We are in urgent need of funds. Mr. Fang, can you help us out first?"

Luo Jianhua's series of words included both ruthless accusations against Xiong Xiaoge for turning his back on him and desperate calls for help.

Fang Zhuo sighed. How could this old Xiong react so quickly? How come Mr. Luo was also very clear about the impact of Lehman's bankruptcy?

He said slowly: "Boss Luo, Lehman went bankrupt, the stock market plummeted, and the economy went down. It is understandable that Boss Xiong overturned the cooperation. I also have to evaluate the operation of all funds. I really can't come up with the money."

"Boss Fang! We have agreed!" Luo Jianhua couldn't help but roared in his voice, "Why are you kicking someone when they are down like Boss Xiong!"

"It's not kicking someone when they are down, it's just that the landlord has no surplus food." Fang Zhuo said calmly, "You cut the order of my Lin'an factory and owed the OEM fee. Now Lehman is bankrupt, and I really can't come up with the money. Let's just treat it as one code for one code. "

Luo Jianhua listened to Mr. Fang's emotionless voice and the overdue fees. The roar disappeared, and he murmured faintly: "What about Qimonda? What should we do now?"

Fang Zhuo's colder heart has not been warmed up recently. He answered the question calmly: "Mr. Luo, business is fair."

Luo Jianhua hung up the phone silently and decisively. Fang was not soft-hearted at all. He couldn't waste time here. He had to rush to find the next one. Lehman's bankruptcy came suddenly, and the attitude of the funding parties must be cautious.

Qimonda is in danger!

Fang Zhuo did not put down his mobile phone, ready to check the comments on Lehman's bankruptcy on the Internet.

But before he opened the browser, Wei Boyun, senior vice president of Morningstar Semiconductor, called in.

"Mr. Fang, Lehman went bankrupt. Several mainland customers called and asked to cancel some orders. Our stock price fell by 6% yesterday." Wei Boyun's tone was helpless, "What should we do now?"

Morning Star Semiconductor has not had good luck since its listing. First, it broke the issue price, then encountered the impact of the financial black swan, and then was cut by a major customer.

On the first day, it had a market value of 15.6 billion Hong Kong dollars, but now it is less than 14 billion!

Once the customer information is disclosed, the stock market performance will inevitably be more depressed.

Fang Zhuo's colder heart has not been warmed up recently. He calmly answered the question: "Mr. Wei, business is fair."

Wei Boyun: "This..."

How can you, a shareholder, say such cold words!

"I didn't make Lehman go bankrupt. What can I do? Customers cut orders according to the situation. What can I do? My own wafer factory has been cut. Who did I talk to about what to do?" Fang Zhuo emphasized, "Business is fair!"

Wei Boyun ended the call helplessly.

After a while, several calls came in, including but not limited to loans from unfamiliar people.

Fang Zhuo had no choice. In the face of the financial shock wave, everyone had to be cautious and must handle things impartially.

At ten o'clock in the morning, a piece of news suddenly came from the United States.

Freescale, a world-renowned semiconductor company, announced a 15% layoff, and did not rule out a larger layoff plan in the future.

Fang Zhuo's cold heart suddenly warmed up a little.

What's going on?

Why is Freescale so fast?

I'm not ready yet!

Lehman just declared bankruptcy yesterday, and you're laying off 15% of your employees today!

This... Freescale, you understand the economic crisis!