Sirius and Gringotts - Banking Q & A; mostly Q

[kiricat2001]

No: HPFGUIDX 96417

Steve bboy mn wrote:
> -Do, as I very much suspect, the Goblins have muggle 'front'
> businesses that they use to funnel money into and out of the muggle
> world? 
> -How shady are the Goblins investments? Would they be above
> questionable business practices? Would the go so far as to 
manipulate
> the stock or currency markets? Would they fan the flames of civil
> unrest if they thought they could make it work to their finacial
> advantage?
> -Where do the Goblins get all those raw gems that are the size of
> lumps of coal? ...old tomes? ...new mining?  ...unclaimed vaults?
> -and many many more?
> 
> Enquiring minds want to know.
> 
> bboy_mn

Marianne:
Steve, you have waaaay too much time on your hands ;-) (although I 
always find your posts interesting, especially when you're 
speculating about life in the WW).

I suspect there has to be some way for a currency exchange between 
Muggle and wizard world. Otherwise, how would people like the 
Grangers be able to pay for Hermione's school supplies? Hogwarts may 
be funded by the Ministry, but all of those merchants in Diagon Alley 
aren't handing over their wares for free.  So, I'm sure there's a 
connection somewhere.  

As far as questionable business practices and market manipulation, 
well, what were all those Goblin rebellions about? 

And why would wizards want their money to be tied up so much with 
Gringotts and the Goblins? Are there competing banks?  Is this a 
monopoly?  And just how cozy is someone like Lucius "Moneybags" 
Malfoy with the Goblins?

Marianne