* Whispered wheelings and dealings could be heard in dark corners of the Hotel Arts early in the week, but the meetings were nothing to do with ABS. Negotiations centered on how to score one of the limited tickets to the Deutsche Bank party Wednesday night, where British pop group Girls Aloud had been booked to wow the lucky invitees. It must have been a good knees-up: as DW went to press Thursday, no party attendees could be reached for comment.
*Leonardo DiCaprio was sighted entering the conference hotel on Tuesday. "I saw him walk right past me and I didn't even have my camera," cried one female delegate.
* World Cup soccer fever had infected the conference sponsor stands. Bear Stearns and INVESTEC both offered table football, while ABN AMRO had a football computer game on offer. Plenty of mini and soft footballs were also up for grabs, although none matched those offered by CIBC World Markets which was runaway winner in the biggest balls category.
