By Lauren Tara LaCapra

(Reuters) – Goldman Sachs Group Inc (GS.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) trimmed staff in its U.S. operations on Thursday, amid a slowdown in capital markets activity, three people familiar with the matter said.

The investment bank cut several dozen jobs at its offices in New York, New Jersey and Salt Lake City, Utah, said the people, who spoke under the condition of anonymity.

By Lauren Tara LaCapra

(Reuters) – Wall Street is ramping up a campaign against rules that are designed to prevent financial firms from being too interconnected, arguing that the well-intended regulations could backfire and hurt markets.

The rules, which limit financial institutions from having too much exposure to any one party, have not grabbed nearly as much attention as the Volcker rule. But Wall Street banks fear they could hurt their profits as much – if not more.

June 12 (Reuters) – Morgan Stanley’s brokerage joint
venture with Citigroup unit, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney,
will eventually drop the Smith Barney name, the investment
bank’s chief executive said at an investor conference Tuesday.

The name change, to Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, has
been the subject of speculation for more than a year, but Morgan
Stanley Chief Executive James Gorman for the first time
confirmed the branding plan in a public setting.

By Lauren Tara LaCapra

(Reuters) – Wall Street bankers are bracing for another round of job cuts as a downturn in the global economy cuts into earnings from dealmaking, capital raising and lending.

Investors, consultants and analysts say that the big banks are just not bringing in the revenue needed to keep their workforces at current levels, especially given the cost of complying with new regulations.

June 5 (Reuters) – Wall Street bankers are bracing for
another round of job cuts as a downturn in the global economy
cuts into earnings from dealmaking, capital raising and lending.

Investors, consultants and analysts say that the big banks
are just not bringing in the revenue needed to keep their
workforces at current levels, especially given the cost of
complying with new regulations.

June 1 (Reuters) – The bond markets are treating Morgan
Stanley (MS.N: Quote, Profile, Research) like a junk-rated company, and the investment
bank’s higher borrowing costs could already be putting it at a
disadvantage even before an expected ratings downgrade this
month.

Bond rating agency Moody’s Investors Service has said it may
cut Morgan Stanley by at least two notches in June, to just two
or three steps above junk status. Many investors see such a cut
as all but certain.

By Lauren Tara LaCapra

(Reuters) – The bond markets are treating Morgan Stanley (MS.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) like a junk-rated company, and the investment bank’s higher borrowing costs could already be putting it at a disadvantage even before an expected ratings downgrade this month.

Bond rating agency Moody’s Investors Service has said it may cut Morgan Stanley by at least two notches in June, to just two or three steps above junk status. Many investors see such a cut as all but certain.

, May 24 (Reuters) – For all the security
staff, rules of conduct and a warning that troublemakers would
be kicked out, the most noteworthy event at Goldman Sachs Group
Inc’s annual meeting on Thursday was a mild tweet.

“We are now live on Twitter (finally) at the GS Annual
Meeting,” Goldman’s Twitter account said in its first tweet at
9:38 a.m. on Thursday. “Follow us here for updates on our work,
our research, and our people.”

By Lauren Tara LaCapra

(Reuters) – Goldman Sachs Group Inc plans to channel investments totaling $40 billion over the next decade into renewable energy projects, an area the investment bank called one of the biggest profit opportunities since its economists got excited about emerging markets in 2001.

Goldman executives said this week that demand for alternative energy sources will grow with global energy demand, and as big manufacturing countries, including China and Brazil, set more aggressive targets for reducing emissions. The bank plans to finance deals with clients’ money and, to a lesser extent, its own funds.

May 16 (Reuters) – Big banks are expected to use a larger
portion of profits for employee bonuses this year, despite
extensive job cuts and a recent outcry from shareholders over
excessive pay, according to a closely watched survey of Wall
Street compensation.

Bonuses are expected to rise 5 percent to 15 percent for
employees across the financial services industry, with
fixed-income traders projected to get the biggest bonus
increases, according to forecasts by the compensation consulting
firm Johnson Associates.