JP Morgan job losses fuel Wall Street gloom

The bank's net income fell by 51 per cent in the fourth quarter `What can you see happening that is going to create a better environment?'

Wall Street's foundations were shaken again yesterday with news that JP Morgan is set to become the latest of a string of New York-based banks to begin shedding staff in an effort to cope with a year-long securities slump.

Already this week, Paine Webber had revealed that it was preparing to shed 5 per cent of its workforce, while Lehman Brothers was hit on Tuesday by a downgrading of its credit rating by the investor services firm Moody's. There was speculation that Moody's might act similarly against Salomon Brothers.

Rumours began to surface some weeks ago that JP Morgan had run into trouble in Mexico, following the devaluation of the peso, and in its derivatives trading division. Yesterday, the bank said it would be taking a $55m charge in the first quarter, largely to cover the costs of staff lay-offs.

While the bank has not confirmed the extent of the job losses, company sources were quoted yesterday as suggesting that 5 per cent of the worldwide workforce of 17,000 could be affected. That would mean 850 positions lost, including traders and investment bankers.

JP Morgan's first-quarter results are not due out until mid-April, but analysts are expecting poor figures reflecting the firm's difficulties. The bank's net income fell by 51 per cent in the fourth quarter of last year.

A spokeswoman for Salomon Brothers, itself hit by a $399m loss in 1994, declined to comment on the suggestion that Moody's was considering downgrading its current high rating. Moody's put Salomon's rating on review last month. It has similarly put Paine Webber's debt rating on review.

A downgrade in their credit rating is painful for investment banks because it increases the costs of short-term borrowings and reduces the confidence of clients, which is vital to a bank's survival.

It is estimated that the downgrading of Lehman's debt will cost it $100m in increased borrowing charges and an additional $100m in lost revenues.

Perrin Long, a brokerage analyst for Brown Brothers Harriman, was among those suggesting that Salomon may be next on Moody's list for downgrading.

"I think there is a good possibility", he said. "I think there is a question whether Salomon have a good risk management system in place and whether they are going to adhere to it."

Mr Long said there was a danger for all the banks that as profits dwindled they would be tempted to take greater risks to try to revive revenue flows.

Nor does he expect prospects for Wall Street to improve in the near term. "What can you see happening in the next six to 12 months that is going to create a better environment for the industry? It is hard to see much."

Meanwhile, Manhattan is awash with tales of strife at Smith Barney, which itself has faced disappointment in its efforts to become a world investment- banking leader.

The firm is reportedly riven by jealousies over the high compensation being awarded to executives drafted into the firm two years ago from Morgan Stanley - with Robert Greenhill at their head - compared with the lower figures being awarded to original Smith Barney staff members.

While members of the two camps are said to be avoiding even talking to each other, a company spokesman insisted that the disputes had been resolved. "The events that are at the root of so much speculation have been settled and solved and are behind us," he said.