
Crisis explainer: Uncorking CDOs
2 months ago
Marketplace Senior Editor Paddy Hirsch gives a bubbly explanation of the intricacies of “collateralized debt obligations” – those financial instruments that got us into this financial mess. More coverage of the financial crisis at Marketplace.org
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Thanks.
Thank you.
Estelle
After watching this video explanation, there seem to be three culprits:
a) People who defaulted on their mortgages
b) Investment bankers who repackaged worthless securities and sold them off as safe (e.g., AAA)
c) the investment ratings companies who didn't do their jobs and let the executives in "B" sell poor investments as good
In the above scenario, executives in B and C should go to jail, in my opinion. A fiduciary relationship was abused.
Also, perhaps it would be helpful for the audience to know how this affects the banks that are involved - write-downs on these securitizations, etc.
You put your finger on it. How did they get away with selling that second pyramid of securities (and believe it or not, some bright sparks actually sold a third pyramid!)?
The answer is: bond insurance! Yes, they insured the bonds with companies like Ambac and MBIA.....and we all know what happened there. In the end, as the securities sputtered, the pressure ratcheted up on the insurance companies until they were unable to honor those contracts.