InteractiveBrokers balance sheet

[Adamus]

Does this mean they have $34.5 billion in debts?

The rest of its here:

http://www.interactivebrokers.com/en/general/about/mediaRelations/10-23-08.php

The reason I'm asking is because I'm just about to transfer my capital across to them - and if I'm going to lose it, I want it to be my way in the markets, not due to some brokerage firm going under.

Maybe I've been listening to too much Nicholas Naseem Taleb, but it does look suspicious to me.

Call me stupid for not knowing how to read financial statements, but I hate stocks and never normally look at this stuff. And if you're alarmed that someone who can't understand a set of company accounts is transferring loads of money to a brokerage, well don't worry, I'll be trading futures - I find them much more comprehensible.

 

[nine]

Do the assets = the liabilities?

And to whom do you see IB being in debt?


Reading NT can make you almost as paranoid as he is arrogant.

 

[nine]

However, this interview with Taleb might be interesting:

Charlie Rose - Nassim Taleb / James Taylor & Yo-Yo Ma

 

[fibonelli]

I am able to interpret a balance sheet having read thousands of the buggers over many years.

The net debt position is $940.7m+$481.7m=$1,422.4m-$471m=$951.4m.

Many of the assets essentially match off against the relevant liabilities.

You need to ask where the client deposits are invested in.

 

[Adamus]

Ok, thanks guys. So if it all balances off against itself, that means the risk is counter-party risk from the places where they've stashed their capital, and in and of IB itself, they look sound from an accountant's POV?