Main News

 

Can Investment Banks Take a Stand Against Activist Hedge Funds?
Wall Street Journal Blogs - New York,NY,USA
With hedge funds, what you see is not always what you get. But is that illegal? Here’s one surprising person saying that it is: Edward J. Kelly III, ...
See all stories on this topic

 

Systems scrutinised after SocGen affair
Risk management applications have always used a crude but common sense rules-based approach that flagged trades exceeding certain thresholds. This does not reveal the actual exposure of those positions - a limitation that became apparent in the Nick Leeson trading scandal, which brought down Barings Bank.
http://mail2.efnmail.co.uk/r/349743/MTk4MTI1OjE2Nzc0/

 

Banks stress-test for cracks in systems
The Société Générale affair has put renewed focus on banks' risk management systems. Despite the fact that the advent of Basel II should have tightened up risk controls, regulators and banks have been paying particularly close attention to the security of information technology and risk management systems in the wake of  Jérôme Kerviel's rogue trading.
http://mail2.efnmail.co.uk/r/349742/MTk4MTI1OjE2Nzc0/

 

JP Morgan acts to calm hedge fund clients
Financial News Online US - London,UK
JP Morgan was last week rushing to reassure hedge fund clients of Bear Stearns’ prime brokerage of its commitment to the business to prevent an exodus of ...
See all stories on this topic

 

Nervous creditors move fast to seize collateral
Last June, Wall Street banks appeared to be reserved in seizing collateral from the two Bear Stearns-owned leveraged credit hedge funds that were closed following plunging asset values and margin calls.
http://mail2.efnmail.co.uk/r/349748/MTk4MTI1OjE2Nzc0/

Independent adviser Lazard makes credit crisis pay
When a financial services company picks up the phone to Lazard, these days it usually means bad news is imminent. The independent investment bank has seen the credit crisis unravel from the privileged position as an adviser, rather than a participant, and has worked on all aspects of the liquidity crunch.
http://mail2.efnmail.co.uk/r/349749/MTk4MTI1OjE2Nzc0/

 

 

The ongoing credit crisis in U.S. financial markets has claimed a huge and high-profile victim: Bear Stearns, the Wall Street investment bank and securities brokerage firm. After being slammed by what amounted to a run on the bank during the week of March 10, Bear Stearns was pushed to the brink of bankruptcy and then agreed to be acquired -- for $2 a share -- by JP Morgan Chase over the weekend. Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke and Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson played an active role in the transaction, largely because of the potential impact that a major bankruptcy might have on confidence in the financial markets. That same day, the Federal Reserve lowered interest rates -- as it did again on March 18, by three-quarters of a percentage point.

Full Story...

Bear and the Banks: Risk Profile and Implications

by Armelle Guizot

 

Merrill Lynch Report: Asset Management Race Is On

by Christopher Holt

 

Good Advice During Turbulent Times

by Barry Ritholtz

 

Calling a Turn in Blackstone Group

by Zachary Scheidt

 

 

 

Geopolitical Diary: The Vatican's New Clash With Islam
March 24, 2008 0322 GMT
Pope Benedict XVI baptized an Egyptian-born Muslim convert to Christianity over the weekend. The move is one of many signals that could presage a renewed conflict between the Vatican and Islam.
http://www.stratfor.com/geopolitical_diary/geopolitical_diary_vaticans_new_clash_islam

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Yield Curve Corner

 

Legacy of Depression at work now
Los Angeles Times - CA,USA
Fed Chairman Ben S. Bernanke's decision to rescue investment house Bear Stearns Cos. by extending central bank lending to major financial institutions other ...

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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/DSTafrica084_MT.jpg

 

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Iranian Situation and Other Man Made Disasters

 

Iran 'behind Green Zone attack'
BBC News Mon, 24 Mar 2008 8:34 AM PDT
The top US general in Iraq says he has evidence Iran was behind Sunday's attack on Baghdad's Green Zone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Satirist’s Guide To the Iranian Nuclear Crisis

By Ebrahim Nabavi

 

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Opalesque’s Corner

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Misc. Items of Interest

 

Turkmenistan: Cozying Up to NATO?
March 24, 2008 1415 GMT
Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimukhammedov will become the first Turkmen leader to go to a NATO summit when he attends the alliance's heads of state meeting on April 2-4.
http://www.stratfor.com/analysis/turkmenistan_cozying_nato

 

Nobel laureate blames crunch on 'flawed' City bonus structure
Joseph Stiglitz, the Nobel Prize-winning economist, has blamed the "unconscionable" system of generous bonuses paid to investment bankers for exacerbating the global credit crisis.  (The Independent)
http://mail2.efnmail.co.uk/r/349939/MTk4MTI1OjE2Nzc2/

 

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Funnies, Facts, Quotes, etc….

 

plethora PLETH-uh-ruh, noun:

1. An abnormal bodily condition characterized by an excessive amount of blood in the system.
2. Excess; superabundance.

 

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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.