Main News

 

More Subprime Shocks to Come?
Fannie Mae is questioned on accounting. Read More

 

Goldman warns of a substantial US recession. By Ambrose Evans-Pritchard, International Business Editor. Last Updated: 11:23pm GMT 16/11/2007 ...
www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?Cached - Note this

 

Arabs' Dollar Losses Increase Pressure to Sever Pegs (Update4). By Matthew Brown and Aaron Pan. Enlarge Image/Details. Nov. 19 (Bloomberg) -- When central ...
www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601109&sid=aN.FfcMPXR10&refer=home - 12 hours ago - Similar pages - Note this

 

Bond Market to Fed: Recession Threat Means More Cuts (Update1). By Daniel Kruger. Enlarge Image/Details. Nov. 19 (Bloomberg) -- The headline in the ...
www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601080&sid=aMbKLK.0iL8A - 15 hours ago - Similar pages - Note this

 

EUROPE – In order to cope with wide scale changes to the investment landscape, consultants Watson Wyatt and the Financial Times have launched a joint research project to help advise stakeholders

 

PPM chooses new SRI fund
http://www.ipe.com/news/PPM_chooses_new_SRI_fund_26058.php

 

Asset managers launch to tap market uncertainty
http://www.ipe.com/news/Asset_managers_launch_to_tap_market_uncertainty_26061.php

 

Recession Watch: It's Probably Already Here , by Henry Blodget

 

 

Russell unravels complexity
Global Pensions - London,UK
Russell identified inefficiencies which the manager would try to protect against, such as portable alpha structures which result in redundant trades and ...
See all stories on this topic

 

 Goldman's Global Alpha May End 2007 With Assets Down $6 Billion

 http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=email_en&refer=home&sid=aDPzxc7.LV.g

 

 

Director arrested in Philips pensions fraud
http://www.ipe.com/realestate/Director_arrested_in_Philips_pensions_fraud_26074.php

 

NY State Teachers to pull out of two core funds
http://www.ipe.com/realestate/NY_State_Teachers_to_pull_out_of_two_core_funds_26070.php

 

Sat, 17 Nov 2007, 21:40

 

Sunday , 18 Nov 2007
De Beers, NM Rothschild hold secret talks which could result in the release of Russian diamond asset

 

Buffett Goes To Bat for Alex Rodriguez
Wall Street Journal Interactive - Monday November 19, 07:53 GMT

 

Blogging Stock

Last Wednesday, the mega hedge fund Och-Ziff went public. But investors were jittery and the stock has already dropped 12.5% since its debut. Well, it may drop even more -- that is, according to a piece in Barron's. In fact, the author, Andrew Bary, calls the company's investment performance an example of "mediocrity."

 

Proprietary traders show hedge funds the way
Investment banks' proprietary trading desks have proved they provide a better training ground for hedge fund managers in Europe compared with traditional asset management firms.
http://mail2.efnmail.co.uk/r/324400/MTk4MTI1OjE1Njgz/

 

Alternative energy is a race that must be won
Rehabilitating the world's economies from their addiction to oil is one of the biggest challenges of the century. It will be crucial for energy security as well as tackling the threat of climate change.
http://mail2.efnmail.co.uk/r/324412/MTk4MTI1OjE1Njgz/

 

The billionaires' handbook
Times Online - UK
He goes on to qualify this statement, but not in a way that will particularly comfort hedge fund managers. "That is not to say that individual hedge fund ...
See all stories on this topic

 

Gulf: Dubai dazzles but Riyadh is the big prize -- [at FT.com]

 

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Yield Curve Corner

 

Fed Transparency and Other Illusions
Gold Seek - USA
On November 14, Ben Bernanke delivered a speech to the Cato Institute's 25 th annual monetary conference. Cato is a well-known Washington Beltway free ...
See all stories on this topic

 

Bond Market to Bernanke: Recession Threat Means More Rate Cuts
Bloomberg - USA
19 (Bloomberg) -- The headline in the financial futures market these days says Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke is withholding some vital ...
See all stories on this topic

 

Economists think US can dodge recession
MarketWatch - USA
When Federal Reserve Chief Ben Bernanke was asked to give his odds of a recession, he demurred, saying the central bank was not any better at predicting ...
See all stories on this topic

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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/TRCbongwe323_MT.jpg

 

Aid reaches stricken Bangladeshis *
Rescue teams reach most areas affected by a huge Bangladesh storm that has killed at least 2,400 people.
Full story:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/7100957.stm

 

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Iranian Situation

 

Politicus: Spring will be crucial on Iran
International Herald Tribune Mon, 19 Nov 2007 5:48 AM PST
If new sanctions are enacted against Iran, the United States, France and Britain will evaluate their possible non-effect sometime in the second quarter of 2008.

 

Venezuela's Chavez visits Iran
AP via Yahoo! News Mon, 19 Nov 2007 4:28 AM PST
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez made his fourth trip to Iran in two years on Monday, state media reported, as the two countries sought to strengthen ties while their leaders exhort the international community to resist U.S. policies.

 

Bush to Go Public on Iran’s Secret Nuclear Arms Activities
DEBKAfile Exclusive Report 11 Nov.: DEBKAfile’s Washington sources report that President George W. Bush is planning to put before the public new findings on Iran’s nuclear secrets gathered by the United States, Russia, France, Germany and Israel.

The White House hopes to show up the international nuclear watchdog and its director Mohammed ElBaradei as having fallen down in their tasks in Iran and Syria and so bring Russia and China on board for a third round of UN Security Council sanctions tough enough to place Iran under a progressively tightening economic siege.

The US is backing this tactic up by again massing naval, air and marine forces around Iran’s Gulf shores. Tehran has countered by threatening wave upon wave of suicide attacks.

Our sources stress that Bush was galvanized into developing a new initiative in Iran by the crisis in Pakistan. The fall of Pervez Musharraf’s regime could bring to power a leadership opting for close ties with Iran, forming a nuclear axis between Islamabad and Tehran.

DEBKAfile’s Iran sources report the rulers of Tehran are preparing counter-measures.

On Nov. 6, Muhammad Ali Hosseini, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman, was asked about the threat from the Revolutionary Guards Navy chief Gen. Ali Fadwi to send suicide fighters if needed was the official Tehran line. He replied: “Martyrdom is a holy phenomenon that is affirmed by the Islamic religion which regards defense against aggression as a duty. Thus martyrdom is also a valuable tool for deterring attacks.”

 

 

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Opalesque’s Corner

 

- Opalesque Exclusive: Exploring the FoHFs universe (part 7) - Prisma research says manager selection more important than strategy selection
- Opalesque Exclusive: Octane Holding Ltd.  shuffles management positions, expands teams for further growth
- Other Voices: Who coined the phrase `hedge fund activist`? Maybe it`s time to reframe as `investor engagement`
- New launches: Harcourt launches the Belair Sustainable Alternatives SRI Fund, Trinium closes one hedge fund, preps another, Pictet launches HF-like mutual fund, Putnam promotes alternative fixed-income strategies as alternative to HFs
- Opalesque Exclusive: Copper Arch to return all capital to investors, Aladdin Capital to raise cash to invest in distressed mortgage securities, Vega Select Opportunities fund up 6.7% in October, recovering from last year`s losses, Global`s highly ranked Distressed Fund open for investors to the end of December, Chilton Investment aims to open shop in western China
- Hedge fund warns AIM tax changes will deter private money and prompt bigger companies to abandon the market, Abolition of relief accelerates junior exodus
- IPOs / stakes: Migdal Capital Markets enters hedge fund industry, buys stake of Tao HFs, Comment: Och-Ziff``s IPO proves that, on Wall Street, a money manager`s grasp sometimes exceeds its achievements, A shot across the bow: Och-Ziff warns investors on confidentiality
- Indices: HFRI monthly performance indices, mid update - EM up 5.26%, Macro up 3.73%
- Many hedge funds rebounded by shorting subprime exposure and from emerging markets, YTD best since 2003, FoFs profit from Paulson holdings, Study: The mystery of `slightly positive results` in hedge funds and college basketball
- Strategies: What the doctor ordered - how Yun manages Palo Alto`s health care and biotech HF
- Hedge fund marketing: Investor recalls `outrageous` practices,   Comment: Seven things about courage that hedge fund investors need to know
- As 130/30 funds offer investors a safer haven, F&C intends on building a platform of 130/30 funds across its equity desks
- Goldman sees subprime cutting $2trln in lending, Goldman Sachs chief economist sees mortgage credit losses as high as $400bln,  Goldman Sachs rakes in profit in credit crisis, Sentinel deficit may now top $550 million
- Trading Platforms: GFI launches electronic emissions trading platform,  Fewer platforms, faster trading, MTS now planning to let HFs gain direct access to its platforms, Quant techniques drive forex trading volumes ever higher
- Stumbling blocks to intervention on dollar, Arabs` dollar losses increase pressure to sever pegs
- Pensions: IPE awards: Full list of 2007 winners, Philips fund fraud brings calls for transparency, Pension Corp hits back after official rebuke, Telent to invest 20% in alternatives
- People: Intelysis hires forensic accountant to complete U.S. fraud investigation team, Rising stars Newman and Katekis quit F&C for hedge fund world, Fauchier Partners appoints two CIOs, HSBC merges alternative/traditional fund admin, Culin Lunn appointed, Pauline Wong to leave
- SEC`s accredited investor standards means only 1.3 % of U.S. households qualify now
- Commodities: All that glisters is . . . platinum, silver and palladium, Ethanol is 2007`s worst energy investment
- WeatherBill launches first European weather derivatives contract
- Northern Rock to have government loan extended, Rock shareholders call for halt to sale and for Arnold to take the helm
- Standard Chartered group targets US$1bln in alternative investments with launch of new Islamic fund
- Views on Asia: Asia clients to lead fund growth, SocGen`s Clot says, Deutsche Bank report: Alternative investment to grow in importance, also in China, Focus on earnings not valuations, says JPMorgan
- ML survey: Global fund managers pessimistic over global economy growth, most overweight in EM
- Vietnam`s stock market may loosen limitations on foreign investors
- Activist News: CSX publicly rebuts TCI`s criticisms, Datascope attacks Ramius, Italian investors represent 10 % of Algebris` capital, Steinway strikes chord with California hedge fund
- News Briefs: CalPERS San Francisco regional office moving to New Walnut Creek office, The billionaires` handbook: ` Simple But Not Easy`, Two more top City jobs lost, from Dresdner Kleinwort, Wall Street plans $38 bln of bonuses, DFSA`s Securities Regulation receives highly positive IMF-World Bank assessment,  Indian derivatives market to double next year
- And Finallly. Sketches from Bird and Fortune, one on subprime crisis, one on NorthernRock
- Logon: http://www.opalesque.com/main.php?act=archive

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Misc. Items of Interest

 

An Engineer Does the Math So Troops in Iraq Can Find Bombs
(By Stephen Barr, The Washington Post)

 

My Genome, Myself: Seeking Clues in
DNA
New York Times Nov. 17, 2007
*************************
For as little as $1,000 and a
saliva sample, customers will be
able to learn what is known so far
about how the billions of bits in
their DNA shape who they are and
what their health risks may be.
Three companies have already
announced plans to market such
services....
http://www.kurzweilai.net/email/newsRedirect.html?newsID=7513&m=29780

 

The Death of E-Mail
Slate Nov. 14, 2007
*************************
Email is increasingly for old
people, as kids turn to
instant-messaging, mobile
text-messaging, blogging,
micro-blogging, Twitter tweet, and
Facebook status updates to overcome
e-mail's...
http://www.kurzweilai.net/email/newsRedirect.html?newsID=7512&m=29780

 

Digital Actors in 'Beowulf' Are
Just Uncanny
New York Times Nov. 14, 2007
*************************
The computer-animated movie
"Beowulf" uses a sophisticated new
technique to capture performances by
famous actors. While still in the
"uncanny valley," it "pushes digital
acting far beyond anything I've seen
before," according to the Times
reviewer. The movie opens Friday
Nov. 16, available in IMAX 3D or
REALD 3D in selected theaters....
http://www.kurzweilai.net/email/newsRedirect.html?newsID=7498&m=29780

 

From Ants to People, an Instinct to
Swarm
New York Times November 13, 2007
*************************
Iain D. Couzin, a mathematical
biologist at Princeton University
and the University of Oxford, and
colleagues are starting to discover
simple rules that allow swarms of
ants and other simple animals to
work so well. Simulating Swarm
Intelligence (NY Times) Those rules
allow thousands of them to form a
collective brain able to make...
http://www.kurzweilai.net/email/newsRedirect.html?newsID=7488&m=29780

 

Risk Talent Associates, a risk management executive search firm, released the results of two annual Professional Compensation Surveys today, one focused on risk consulting and the other on corporate risk.

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Funnies, Facts, Quotes, etc….

 

flout FLOWT, transitive verb:

1. To treat with contempt and disregard; to show contempt for.
2. To mock, to scoff.
3. Mockery, scoffing.

 

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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.