On the surface, Goldman’s just reported earnings that were significantly better than expected, with the central-bank controlling hedge fund announcing it had earned $4.57 in the third quarter, over a dollar above the $3.21 expected and also above the highest estimate, on revenues of $8.39 billion, half a billion above the $7.83 billion expected, while also announcing an increase in its dividend from $0.55 to $0.60.
The biggest revenue contributor was the pick up in FICC trading which was $2.17 billion, just below the $2.22 billion in Q2 and well above the $1.83 Bn expected.