Author Archives: Alex Akesson

About Alex Akesson

Alex has been specializing in hedge fund and alternative investment news since April 2006. Working mainly in research and manager interviews, she has published breaking news on the hedge fund industry on her blog, as well as several industry publications. Her access to hedge fund managers gives her insight into news stories as well, and the ability to track press releases and other breaking news in real time.

Coming Soon: “Reality” Hedge Fund TV

A hedge fund group is introducing a six part “reality” TV show called Hedge Fund Lions’ Den (HFLD). The show will feature three “lions” or heads of the current hedge fund industry, Luke Ellis, the president of of the world’s largest publicly traded hedge fund manager, Man Group; Lord Fink, philanthropist and CEO of ISAM, an alternative investment adviser; and Aberdeen Asset Management’s Andrew McCaffery. The first […]

Industry Record: Hedge Fund Assets Reach $1.97 Trillion

All hedge fund strategies, excluding relative value, were in the positive in November, Eurekahedge reports today. Fixed income fund managers lead the pack with returns of 7.28% during the month. The handful of fixed income funds which were investing in ‘bitcoins’ saw gains during the November as leading central banks recognized the virtual currency as legal tender. However, the price […]

High Speed Trader Charged With Manipulating Futures Contracts To The Tune Of $20 Million

The CFTC has filed a civil an enforcement action in New York against Donald R. Wilson and his company, DRW Investments with unlawfully manipulating the price of a futures contract. The CFTC claims that the defendants profited by at least $20 million, while their trading counterparties suffered losses of an equal amount. “Traders cannot engage in manipulative acts to affect […]

SAC Capital: Hedge Fund Billionaire’s Baseball Dreams Fall Through

NY District Judge Richard Sullivan has signed off on a $900 million judgment, part of the $1.2 billion settlement reached by the SEC and hedge fund billionaire Steven Cohen. The settlement is the largest insider trading penalty in history. Cohen’s bid for the Oregon Ducks may fall through as a result. “The potential ownership market is too strong for baseball to keep […]

Breaking: Hedge Funds Start Advertising Blitz

Thanks to Obama’s Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act (Jobs Act), the ban on hedge fund advertising has been lifted starting today. The JOBS Act became law in March 2012 and made the initial recommendation to allow “general solicitation” for private issuers. The SEC was given time to evaluate how they could implement it. In a 4 to 1 vote the SEC […]

Hedge Funds: SEC Weekend Fraud Roundup

Following a plea deal struck in April, Oregon-based hedge fund manager Yusaf Jawed has been sentenced to six years in prison for defrauding investors of $37 million. Jawed plead guilty to 17 counts of mail and wire fraud and was ordered to pay $6.4 million in forfeitures, he paid a $34 million settlement to the SEC. The SEC charged a Manhattan-based independent […]

Hedge Fund People: Managed Funds Association Announces 2013-2014 Board of Directors

The Washington-based Managed Funds Association (MFA), unanimously elected John R. Torell, IV, the managing director and chief financial officer at Tudor Investment Corporation, as its Chair. As a representative of the global community of hedge fund and managed futures funds, “The new Board reflects MFA’s global membership and a commitment to continuing positive, effective outreach to regulators and policy makers.” MFA […]

Hedge Fund Assets Down $20.94 Billion In June

Hedge funds suffered losses this month according to the new Eurekahedge report. ”Hedge funds recorded negative returns in June ending their seven month winning run, as global markets witnessed broad based declines during the month.” Total assets under management were down by $20.94 billion – the sector witnessed net negative asset flows of $2.12 billion while losing $18.82 billion through performance […]

Hedge Funds Who Invested In BP Partner Are Suing For Oil Spill Damages

Anadarko Petroleum Corporation, a BP partner, is being sued by investors for its role in the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill at the Macondo well. Anadarko has over 100 hedge fund shareholders. Reuters reports: “The investors claimed Anadarko wasn’t a passive partner in the Macondo well. It “expressly approved and funded a series of extremely risky decisions made in connection […]

14% Jump in New Hedge Funds with Equities Strategies

Seward & Kissel, the law firm that helped create the first hedge fund in 1949, announced its second annual study of New Hedge Funds in the U.S. The New Hedge Fund Study: 2012 Edition, has revealed that 64% of new funds covered by the study had equity or equity-related strategies, up 14% from the 2011 study. Of the 64% of new funds involved […]