let me tell you something, if you know about how banks trading desks are set up - trading, mid-off and daily trade breaks, you'd know this is the biggest bullshit u've ever heard. what I'm really surprised about is how nobody is pushing for an independent review of what actually happend. if you think anyone in a bank can utilise a risk position without someone's knowledge for millions post nick days, (never mind billions) u've never worked in a bank. TRUST ME there are no systems tricks. capital is capital, and counterparties settle trades with cash not paper.
if you ask me I have a very skeptic view of CDO write downs, SG coming with the same excuse would just be taking the piss. I feel it relates to something very different.