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Hedge funds and bank trading desks are hiring again and have already snapped up some of the most talented managers who were dislodged while firms struggled in the credit crisis, industry insiders said. Hedge funds endured a tough 2008 in which nearly 1,500 portfolios closed, according to Hedge Fund Research, as performance slumped and clients pulled out cash.
However, as returns have improved and redemptions slowed, some funds have grown confident enough about attractive investment opportunities to take on staff — particularly marketing executives to help lure back assets, operations staff and fund managers expert in popular strategies.
Reuters – Traditional works of fine art are fetching good prices despite the recession as buyers seek security and quality, industry insiders said this week at the Art Basel show.
Film star Brad Pitt grabbed the headlines by splashing out $1 million on a painting by German artist Neo Rauch at the show, the world’s largest, which is celebrating its 40th year.
"The sudden change of the market in October affects not so much the prices but the overall volume of what is being offered," said Simon de Pury, chairman of auction house Phillips de Pury & Company.
"The catalogues are getting thinner but the prices are not necessarily getting lower. Indeed, some have held up very, very well," said de Pury, a leading art world figure known for his ability to whip up excitement in the sales room.
Reuters – One of the bizarre effects of Bernard Madoff’s alleged $50 billion fraud is that it has boosted the performance of one group of hedge funds when measured against their peers, industry insiders said.
At least one major index, the CS/Tremont equity market neutral index, has been distorted by the failures of three large funds or fund groups which were index components: Kingate, Fairfield Sentry and Rye Select.
"The values of these funds have been taken to zero and we have no plans to restate them, nor to create additional indexes which exclude these funds," said Elaine Bourke, an associate at Credit Suisse/Tremont Hedge Index.
DST International – One group of hedge funds has had its performance boosted in comparison to its peers as a result of the Bernard Madoff scandal, according to a number of industry insiders.
Due to the failures of three large funds or fund groups – Fairfield Sentry, Kingate and Rye Select – which were components in the Credit Suisse/Tremont equity market neutral index, the listing has been distorted.
As such, the surviving funds are able to claim they have outperformed the index’s benchmark, Reuters notes.
