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But like many others, Pickens believes there’s a fortune to be made in slaking the thirst of a rapidly growing population.

slake
v.   slaked, slak·ing, slakes

v.   tr.

1. To satisfy (a craving); quench: slaked her thirst.
2. To lessen the force or activity of; moderate: slaking his anger.
3. To cool or refresh by wetting or moistening.
4. To combine (lime) chemically with water or moist air.

An IPO lends a certain cachet.

ca·chet
n.  

1. A mark or quality, as of distinction, individuality, or authenticity: “Federal courts have a certain cachet which state courts lack” (Christian Science Monitor).
2. A seal on a document, such as a letter.
3. 1. A commemorative design stamped on an envelope to mark a postal or philatelic event.
   2. A motto forming part of a postal cancellation.
4. A kind of wafer capsule formerly used by pharmacists for presenting an unpleasant-tasting drug.

For a central banker, the most important parts of the job can be the most arcane.

ar·cane 
adj.   Known or understood by only a few: arcane economic theories.

Profiting from pain in this manner was considered uncouth and likely to offend corporate clients.

un·couth
adj.  

1. Crude; unrefined.
2. Awkward or clumsy; ungraceful.
3. Archaic Foreign; unfamiliar.

The Myopia of Private Equity.

my·o·pi·a
n.  

1. A visual defect in which distant objects appear blurred because their images are focused in front of the retina rather than on it; nearsightedness. Also called short sight.
2. Lack of discernment or long-range perspective in thinking or planning: “For Lorca, New York is a symbol of spiritual myopia” (Edwin Honig).

Nevertheless, Mirros anticipates a nerve-wracking denouement.

de·noue·ment also dé·noue·ment
n.  

1. 1. The final resolution or clarification of a dramatic or narrative plot.
   2. The events following the climax of a drama or novel in which such a resolution or clarification takes place.
2. The outcome of a sequence of events; the end result.

The concept is to require the banks to build extremely thick capital cushions that could protect against a multitude of sins and obviate the need for some of Basel II’s micromanagement.

ob·vi·ate
tr.v.   ob·vi·at·ed, ob·vi·at·ing, ob·vi·ates
To anticipate and dispose of effectively; render unnecessary. (prevent)

Wachovia CEO Ken Thompson may rue the day he heard of Golden West.

rue 
v.   rued, ru·ing, rues

v.   tr.
To feel regret, remorse, or sorrow for.

v.   intr.
To feel regret, remorse, or sorrow.

Even when the airline industry went into a nosedive after the September 11 attacks, CEOs couldn’t pull off the kind of merger that could have helped them cut costs and stanch their collective losses, which have topped $29 billion since 2001.

stanch 
tr.v.   stanched also staunched, stanch·ing also staunch·ing, stanch·es also staunch·es

1. To stop or check the flow of (blood or tears, for example).
2. To stop the flow of blood from (a wound).
3. To stop, check, or allay: “My anxiety is stanched; I am at peace” (Scott Turow).

A snafu can wind up on YouTube.

sna·fu
n.   pl. sna·fus
A chaotic or confused situation.

adj.   In a state of confusion or chaos.

tr.v.   sna·fued, sna·fu·ing, sna·fus
To make confused or chaotic.