By James Langton
(September 2 – 14:35 ET) – A quick scan of online retailer Amazon.com reveals what the financal industry troops were doing with their summer vacations.
Apparently the kids at Merrill Lynch & Co. Inc. just can’t get enough of their work. They spent the summer reading Style Investing : Unique Insight into Equity Management by Richard Bernstein. At least that was the most popular book purchased by Merrill Lynchers, according to a new feature on Amazon that breaks down its customers buying habits by employer.
The big broker’s staff were also toning to Tae-Bo, their most popular video purchase; and reliving their youth with U2’s greatest hits CD. The latest discs from Barenaked Ladies and Sarah MacLachlan also featured in the Merrill hit parade, perhaps the firm is making some effort to get in touch with its Canadian cousins. Ricky Martin’s latest opus also features in the top five at Merrill. Hmmmm.
Over at mutual fund giant Fidelity Investments Ltd., staff have been keeping an eye on the office with The Mutual Fund Business by Robert Pozen. Though they also picked up the latest techno-thriller from Tom Clancy and the omnipresent Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden. Notably they also favour Tae-Bo and Ricky Martin.
While the brokers are pumping up for the millennium the bankers shopping on Amazon are brushing up on their swinging, making Austin Powers International Man of Mystery their most popular video.