Deutsche Bank aims high, maybe too high?

To declare that he aims to reach a certain number in terms of profitability is a dangerous game to play for any company chief executive. It may be useful for internal planning and consumption but to give a number in public as Deutsche Bank CEO Josef Ackermann just pronounced (Euro 10 billion pre-tax in 2011) appears a bit unrealistic as the bank never managed to get near this number even in the 'good old days' before credit crunch and Euro crisis. The stock prices of major banks certainly would need a shot-in-the-arm and not just since the twin crisis torpedoed them. Rather than manage analyst expectations managements would be well-advised to complete a root-and-branch review of their business strategies.