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New York (HedgeCo.Net) – Australian regulators have extended the ban on short-selling, saying the move was in the “national interest” of the country.
As large national banks prepare to release their profits in the wake of more write-downs and rising debt, regulators wanted to avoid the effects that short-selling by aggressive hedge funds would have on the market.
"We welcome any additional steps that further boost stability in these difficult conditions," said Senator Nick Sherry. "This is a decision made firmly in the national interest and regardless of any sectoral interests."
The Alternative Investment Management Association was disappointed with the decision, saying the ban reduces liquidity in the market. Both the Federal Government and the Australian Bankers Association agreed with the extension of the ban, while others disagree with the reasons outlined by the regulators.
The Australian Securities and Investment Commission said they would “not hesitate to act” should it be discovered that individuals or companies were skirting the ban.
The ASIC originally enacted the ban last September amidst the market collapse and crumbling financial institutions. The United States and Great Britain enacted bans on short-selling as well, which were lifted shortly thereafter.
The Australian government said they are hoping to lift the ban eventually, after the completion of their new short-selling disclosure requirements.
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Denver Post – College endowments and state pension funds that once plowed billions of dollars into hedge funds and private-equity investments as a way to balance their stock holdings officials are watching the value of their alternative investments shrink.
So far, the losses are mostly on paper, but analysts say they could eventually lead to reduced payouts to retirees, higher taxes so state governments can fulfill their promises, or less cash available for colleges to give out as financial aid.
In recent years, endowments and pensions heaped cash into hedge funds — private investment funds that often use unconventional and risky trading strategies. They also bought into private-equity funds, which make direct investments into private companies or buy them out.
USA Today – The great unwind in the secretive hedge fund world caused by steep losses has contributed to the megapain in the stock market.
Wealthy folks and big investors yanked a record $31 billion to $43 billion out of hedge funds in the third quarter, according to estimates from tracking firms Hedge Fund Research (HFR) and TrimTabs. As a result of ongoing redemption requests from worried investors, the so-called smart-money crowd has been forced to sell assets to raise money to pay back investors.
That vicious cycle of forced selling by these private investment funds has exacerbated the heavy pressure that has pushed the U.S. stock market down as much as 43% from its October 2007 high. "It is really like a global margin call. It feeds on itself," says Woody Dorsey, president of Market Semiotics, which specializes in behavioral finance.
West Palm Beach (HedgeCo.net) – Bracewell & Giuliani LLP today announced that it has formed a multi-disciplinary Task Force to guide financial institutions, private investment funds, institutional investors and other market participants through the legislative, regulatory and enforcement challenges posed by the Troubled Asset Relief Act and other impending actions by Congress, the Treasury Department, the Federal Reserve and the SEC.
The Task Force will focus in particular on legislation, regulatory actions, enforcement matters and strategic communications to assist market participants in their efforts to navigate one of the most significant governmental actions in the history of the U.S. economy.
Commenting on the formation of the Bracewell Task Force, senior partner Rudy Giuliani said, "Our team of former government officials and experienced attorneys in the fields of legislation, enforcement and finance are equipped to guide institutions in this quickly evolving and complex environment." Mr. Giuliani noted that the Bracewell Task Force includes a former Comptroller of the Currency, a former Assistant Secretary of Legislative Affairs of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, former members of Congress from both political parties, former federal prosecutors, and former SEC enforcement attorneys.
In addition, the Bracewell Task Force will draw heavily upon our resources in the areas of broker-dealer and market regulation, financial restructuring, and corporate and securities.
As part of its services, the Task Force is establishing a blog to relay critical real-time information on the development of policy related to the legislation, regulation and enforcement priorities, and will also be providing periodic updates directly to interested clients.
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