Main News

 

Supermodel Bundchen Joins Hedge Fund Managers Dumping Dollars
Bloomberg.com Sun, 04 Nov 2007 2:42 PM PST
Nov. 5 (Bloomberg) -- Gisele Bundchen wants to remain the world's richest model and is insisting that she be paid in almost any currency but the U.S. dollar.

 

WHY ASEAN'S STOCK MARKETS MUST WORK TOGETHER
A merger between Southeast Asian exchanges may be unlikely now, but some
will fall significantly behind their competitors elsewhere unless policy
makers develop consistent policies and regulations across the region.
http://e.mckinseyquarterly.com/WART0144CF6AD32CE4E19361F01080

 

Bear CEO Denies Drug Use Allegations
Wall Street Journal Interactive - Friday November 02, 09:46 GMT

 

Merrill hedge-fund arrangement in question
MENAFN Fri, 02 Nov 2007 11:07 AM PDT
Merrill hedge-fund arrangement in question

 

Hedge funds seek out licence to thrill
BBC News Fri, 02 Nov 2007 2:21 AM PDT
A Bond-themed Hedge Fund conference comes at a time of highs and lows in the industry.

 

Why Country Risks Are Converging In Russian And Kazakh Oil And Gas
Oil and gas companies operating in Russia and Kazakhstan face a number of risks. Kazakhstan has historically been lower risk, providing much broader opportunities for international investors in the sector, but we think the levels of country risk in both countries' oil and gas companies are converging. Today, the two countries are broadly comparable, although for international investors we see the risks of investing in the Kazakh oil sector as somewhat lower than in Russia.
To learn more, click or copy and paste the URL below:
https://www.ratingsdirect.com/Apps/RD/controller/Article?id=610400&SctArtId=8764&from=CM&nsl_code=CMT

 

Super-spiked
The oil price should fall—eventually
Full article

 

Banks bleed all over the dance floor
"When the music stops, in term of liquidity, things will be complicated. But as long as the music is playing, you've got to get up and dance. We're still dancing." These were the words of Citigroup chairman and chief executive Charles Prince just a month before the global credit crunch began and markets became complicated for investment banks, which had been enjoying some of the most benign conditions for a generation.
http://mail2.efnmail.co.uk/r/322546/MTk4MTI1OjE1NTU1

 

Residential market suffers slowdown
European residential property is suffering a worrying slowdown, according to US bond manager Pimco. Matthieu Louanges, vice-president of US bond manager Pimco said in a report published last month that "current signs of weakness are particularly alarming".
http://mail2.efnmail.co.uk/r/322466/MTk4MTI1OjE1NTU1/

 

Risk rises for CMB securities
The risk of owning low-rated commercial mortgage-backed securities has widened by almost 50% in the past month, leading analysts to fear the sector may be emulating the beleaguered residential mortgage sector.
http://mail2.efnmail.co.uk/r/322551/MTk4MTI1OjE1NTU1/

 

Wealth funds may expand to $12 trillion by 2015
Sovereign wealth funds, investment vehicles funded by a country's foreign reserves, could more than quadruple in size to $12 trillion (?8.3 trillion) before 2015, driven by high oil prices and rapid emerging markets growth.
http://mail2.efnmail.co.uk/r/322552/MTk4MTI1OjE1NTU1/

 

Investors set to feel the heat
Average sea ice coverage in the Arctic shrank to 4.4 million square kilometres in August against 5.3 million a year ago and 6.3 million in August 2005. The Northwest Passage was opened to shipping as a result.
http://mail2.efnmail.co.uk/r/322559/MTk4MTI1OjE1NTU1/

 

Investors seek shelter in catastrophe bonds from credit fallout
Investor appetite for catastrophe bonds remains strong, in spite of the summer credit crunch. Analysts believe investors in sub-prime mortgages have sought shelter from the storm by moving to catastrophe bonds in search of higher yields, uncorrelated market risk and portfolio diversification.
http://mail2.efnmail.co.uk/r/322473/MTk4MTI1OjE1NTU1/

 

House to Vote on $49.5 Billion Hedge-Fund, Buyout-Firm Tax Rise
Bloomberg - USA
The measure would also require hedge-fund managers to pay tax on income they defer in offshore accounts. In addition, the legislation would defer until 2017 ...
See all stories on this topic

 

Hedge funds seek out licence to thrill
BBC News - UK
Given that we're at a conference for the hedge fund industry - one which is notorious for being able to turn a profit from the most dire of situations ...
See all stories on this topic

 

Merrill: Caught in the Hedges?
S.E.C. is said to be looking at deals on mortgage debt. Read More

 

Read this before you get a flu shot
11/01/07 12:39 PM, EDT
Nobody wants to get the flu this year. The dreaded, head-pounding, body-aching, feverish, nauseating, cough-fest packs equal parts misery and inconvenience.
FULL STORY <http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/10/31/flu.hm.flu.shot/index.html> 

 

NEW YORK (HedgeWorld.com)—Cliff Asness, founder of New York-based hedge fund AQR Capital Management LLC, thinks cloning himself would be a mistake. But when it comes to cloning some of the alpha Mr. ......

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Yield Curve Corner

 

Five Ways to Profit as the US Dollar Turns Into the "Bernanke Peso"
Money Morning - USA
By Martin Hutchinson As expected, US Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke cut the Federal Funds Rate by another quarter point Wednesday, ...
See all stories on this topic

 

ECONOMIC PREVIEW Bernanke back on the Capitol Hill hot seat
MarketWatch - USA
Bernanke's appearance in front of the Joint Economic Committee on Thursday could be the highlight of the coming week's economic news. ...
See all stories on this topic

 

BALANCING THE BOOKS
Demystifying Investment in ChinaChina, the CIA -- and corks.
http://online.barrons.com/article/SB119404400577381011.html?mod=djemWR

 

BALANCING THE BOOKS
Demystifying Investment in ChinaChina, the CIA -- and corks.
http://online.barrons.com/article/SB119404400577381011.html?mod=djemWR

 

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Natural Disaster Corner

 

Climate Prediction  http://www.nws.noaa.gov/predictions.php

World Meterological Organization http://severe.worldweather.org/

Tornadoes: http://www.disastercenter.com/tornado.htm

Great Sat Pictures of events: http://www.osei.noaa.gov/Events/Current/TRCnoel306_G12.jpg

 

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Iranian Situation

 

 

 

IRAN:  Officials from the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council and Germany have agreed to draft a third resolution for sanctions against Iran, the British Broadcasting Corp. reported. The Security Council will vote on the draft later in November if the next U.N. report finds that Tehran is continuing its nuclear program.

 

 

World Bank suspends payments to Iran
International Herald Tribune Sun, 04 Nov 2007 11:57 AM PST
In compliance with the Bush administration's sanctions against Iran, the World Bank has suspended payments to Iran for programs like earthquake relief and sanitation.

 

Iran hangs five criminals
AFP via Yahoo! News Sun, 04 Nov 2007 3:58 AM PST
Iran has hanged four men convicted of drug trafficking in the southern Hormozgan province and another for murder in the central city of Isfahan, press reports said on Sunday.

 

Noun + Verb + 9/11 + Iran = Democrats? Defeat?
New York Times Sat, 03 Nov 2007 8:36 PM PDT
What happens if President Bush does not bomb Iran? That is good news for the world, but potentially terrible news for the Democrats.

 

IRAN:  The National Iranian Oil Co. plans to build eight oil refineries to refine more than 1.4 million barrels per day in a joint project with private investors, Press TV reported, citing Iranian Oil Ministry official Amin-Allah Eskandari. The refineries will supply domestic market needs, while the surplus will be exported to neighboring countries, Eskandari said.

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Opalesque’s Corner

 

- Opalesque Exclusive: Germany changes investment laws for hedge funds domiciled in Germany and non-German funds marketed into Germany, more marketing opportunities but grey area remains, less reporting but also less tax benefits for investors, adaptation to international standards bring opportunities to prime brokers, fund administrators, Information seminars on opportunities in Germany in New York and Boston, D Börse predicts boom in equity and derivatives trading would continue next year
- RAB Capital to launch mining fund, BNP`s FFTW expects to raise $1 bln for new EM hedge fund and new quant hedge fund, Rechtschaffen to debut with L/S flagship fund, ESC` Artemis Silver Fund is now officially registered in Singapore,  Canadian manager announces the Picton Mahoney Long Short Equity Fund will close at month-end
- Paulson hedge funds cut subprime-mortgage bets, double assets to $24 billion this year, Centaurus sees attractive opportunities in the $400bln leveraged loan backlog but lack of liquidity makes buying cheap impossible, Fortress stock drops 11%, assets illiquid and hard to value,  Finding a way out of the hedge fund maze
- Professor Whitelaw of NYU Stern details method for replicating hedge fund returns using ETFs, AQR`s Asness: Replication of HF returns could a very good thing for the industry, ETF use by hedge funds jumps 36%,  Finding alpha in undervalued ETF pearls
- Opalesque Exclusive: What is happening in Russia - liquidity squeeze but country saved by strong fundamentals, protected by reserves: Comments from Denholm Hall`s CEO, Russia`s largest bank to be listed in London
- Update: Cheyne managers shared GBP101mln payout 8 months before SIV collapsed, Bond insurers slump amid subprime mortgage concerns, Ackman thinks they are over-exposed, Jim Chanos and Bill Ackman gain from shorts on monolines, GMAC posts $1.6 billion loss on weak home lending
- Merrill Lynch off-loaded some of its mortgage-related assets to HFs to delay recognition of losses from mortgage securities, SEC likely to investigate, Update: Bear Stearns`s Cayne denies `inappropriate conduct`, sends internal memo, Commercial paper: Citi may have a new mess on its hands
- U.S. banks` $75bln injection seen as a stopgap for sinking investment funds, Prediction: Contagion to lead to consumer credit recession
- Portrait: Peter Thiel of Clarium, Founders Fund and first Facebook investor: `There`s absolutely no bubble in technology`, Cox is shaping his legacy at the SEC, Ex-star fund manager Tim Sykes is reinventing himself as a transparent internet trader
- People: Melissa Carnathan joins Merrill Lynch as head of EMEA Capital Introductions,  Thariyan named head of credit at Henderson, to lead the 17-strong credit alpha team,  UBS hires senior traders to offer equities platform to S.F. hedge funds, China`s Marco Polo appoints Landau as president,  Renaissance manager joins Citi A.I., Stenham appoints business development manager for the UK, Thames River`s Mabbutt to retire, Onex Credit Partners hires two veteran HF managers, `we are in the early stages of the next default cycle`
- Legal News: U.S. court says FERC action against Amaranth can continue,  Quarterly window dressing cost a South African HF manager his licence, reputation, and now R2m, A former hedge fund manager finds life after prison
- Pensions: Oregon Council adds alternative investments, Danske Capital searches active long-only commodity fund for EUR50m mandate, Finish pension companies double hedge fund investment,
- Online portfolio trading auction BidRoute goes live - the eBay of share trading, Bedrock Realtime chooses Geneva to consolidate existing platforms and launch major new business initiative
- Mifid: Future shape of the European government bond trading platforms and dominant role of MTS could be undermined, Turquoise clearer names chief, CME to offer volatility-based quoting convention for FX options in 2008
- Launch of one of the first Spanish onshore single manager funds, the Sleipnir Fund, Fimat appointed as sole prime broker
- Riskdata analysis of the French market: Losses in money market funds could have been foreseen
- Survey: UK investors think HFs should be more heavily regulated
- The Nordic Hedge Fund Index (NHX) up 1.00% in September, final result, Finland performed best
- India`s chief economic planner tackles infrastructure, clearing the way for robust growth,  Kings of the wild frontier: Why emerging markets are flavour of the moment, record inflows
- Vietnam Stock Exchange admits listed firms fail in corporate governance, `don`t even understand the concept and why it is for their own good`, announces stronger enforcement
- Singapore`s GIC says western governments should judge so-called sovereign wealth funds by their internal processes rather than by state ownership
- News Briefs:RBS` Mark Fisher appointed new CEO at ABN, House to vote on hedge-fund, buyout-firm tax rise, committee approved a $77 billion measure yesterday, Art actions look abroad, Northern Rock racks up debts of GBP23bn to the Bank of England, Albridge to merge with PFPC, Jersey fund servicing industry grows at record pace: research, Times` list of twenty-five people shaping tomorrow`s world of Middle East business, Rape of 15-year-old French boy in Dubai raises questions about how legal system treats foreigners
- And Finally. Dog, cat named Dog and Cat of the Year for saving masters
- Logon: http://www.opalesque.com/main.php?act=archive

 

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Misc. Items of Interest

 

Altria Wants to Be a Puff Daddy
The acquisition of a cigar maker is very positive for Philip Morris USA.
http://online.barrons.com/article/SB119395229643579594.html?mod=djemBF

 

Gains in Iraq Alter Race for 2008
'Momentum' Is Cited by Key General
BY NICHOLAS WAPSHOTT - Staff Reporter of the Sun
The sharp decline in the number of American and Iraqi casualties in the Iraq war over the last five months is set to defuse one of the key Democratic election issues and bolster those presidential candidates who have opposed a quick withdrawal from...

 

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Funnies, Facts, Quotes, etc….

 

myrmidon MUR-muh-don; -duhn, noun:

1. (Capitalized) A member of a warlike Thessalian people who followed Achilles on the expedition against Troy.
2. A loyal follower, especially one who executes orders without question, protest, or pity.

 

sciolism SY-uh-liz-uhm, noun:

Superficial knowledge; a superficial show of learning.

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Conference, Courses, Books, Papers

 

Great Research Sites:

 

Merrill Lynch research Link to full report including important disclosures see example

 

John Mauldin’s Weekly Analysis

 

James Altucher’s Website:

 

Other useful sites:

 

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Index Corner

 

The CSFB/Tremont Hedge Fund Index www.hedgeindex.com.

The Cogent Dynamic Averages http://www.cogenthedge.com/home/inv_strategy.asphttp://www.cogenthedge.com/home/inv_strategy.asp

The Dow Jones Indices: http://www.djhedgefundindexes.com/index.cfm?event=viewPremiumContent (free registration)

HFRX Indices https://www.hedgefundresearch.com/hfrx_reg/index.php?fuse=login&1170880431

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Regulatory Info

 

 

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Disclaimer

 

The information contained in this document does not constitute an offer or solicitation to sell any security or other type of vehicles to or by anyone in any jurisdictions, nor should it be regarded as a contractual document. Under no circumstances should the information provided on this document be considered as financial advice, or as a sufficient basis on which to make investment decisions. The information contained herein has been gathered by Investor DNA, LLC from sources deemed reliable as of the date of publication, but no warranty of accuracy or completeness is given. Investor DNA, LLC is not responsible for and provides no guarantee with respect to any of the information provided herein or through the use of any hypertext link. Past results are no indication of future performance. All information in this newsletter is for educational and informational purposes and does not constitute investment, legal, tax or accounting advice. All materials are the property of the respective publishers, as referenced by header and appropriate hypertext links.