The analyst, as we know it, is an endangered species. After aiming their hunting rifles at the auditors and the directors, regulators are now looking for new prey in the blame game that is so popular, now that Wall Street has fallen on hard times.

Now, with markets in a tight bear grip, people are questioning this cosy model. Investors have lost large wads of cash and are no longer as accommodating as they once were (which is partly their own fault of course, but that`s another discussion). Especially galling to them is that the analysts who so happily talked up TMT stocks in the good years, getting fat bonuses into the bargain, at least have their fortunes to tide them over in the current bear market.