As the financial crisis spreads to more stock markets and banking sectors around the world, a string of topical humour and bad jokes has inevitably followed in its wake.

According to www.justmoney.co.za, South Africa’s online guide to money, humour is a natural human response when times are bad. Paul Beadle, managing director of www.justmoney.co.za, explains: “Most of these jokes come from the financial sector itself – so it’s the old adage of ‘laughing in the face of adversity’.

“What’s interesting is that many of these jokes actually date back to previous economic downturns, so just like the humour, it shows that the financial industry is resilient and will eventually bounce back.”

www.justmoney.co.za has compiled the best (or the worst) of the funnies doing the rounds.

Value for money jokes

Q: What is the difference between a pigeon and a banker? A: A pigeon can still put a deposit on a Porsche!

Q: What is the definition of optimism? A: An investment banker ironing five shirts on a Sunday night

Q: What is the one thing Wall St and the Olympics have in common? A: Synchronised diving

Q: What do you say to a hedge fund manager who can't short-sell anything? A: Quarter-pounder with fries please

Priceless one-liners

· The definition of a bank manager: A person who will lend you an umbrella when the sun is shining, and then ask for it back when it starts to rain.

· It's not all bad news – at least I've stopped getting junk mail offering me credit cards. The nation's loss is the environment's gain!

· The Credit Crunch? Can't we do what we've been doing for the past 10 years and just borrow our way out of the problem?

· 99 percent of bankers give the rest a bad name.

· Debt is just money I haven't earned yet.

And finally a shaggy dog story, from Britain’s esteemed Financial Times, aimed at some of the people and financial practices that many commentators feel have contributed to the current crisis.

A risk manager, walking down a country lane encounters a shepherd standing near a field of sheep. “If I can accurately predict the number of sheep in this field, would you let me have one?” asks the risk manager.

“Certainly,” replies the shepherd, having just counted them himself. The risk manager gets out his slide rule, calculates the area of pasture needed to sustain one sheep, estimates the area of the field and comes up with the figure 423.

“That’s absolutely correct,” says the shepherd, and the risk manager stoops to claim his prize. “But,” adds the shepherd, “you must give me the chance to get even. If I can accurately guess your profession, we’ll call it quits.” The risk manager agrees.

“You’re a risk manager for a major investment bank,” says the shepherd.

“That’s right,” says the bemused manager, “But how did you know?”

The shepherd replies: “Give me back my dog and I’ll tell you.”