Each business day HedgeCo.Net keeps you informed with the top hedge fund industry news, opinion and insight from around the globe. From the latest hedge fund launches, to the impact of regulation, competition, and investor activism - we track the topics and people that make a difference to you.
Media Monitors Network – "The US Federal Reserve Bank, a private institution, is printing $1 trillion to buy toxic bonds to shore up the economy. Will this work? Perhaps temporarily but most economists predict a sharp decline in the value of the dollar within the next five years. With too many dollars in circulation and a massive debt, the dollar will fall in value vis-à-vis other currencies. The Chinese have already called for a new global reserve currency to replace the dollar as it did to the British pound after the Second World War."
Financial Times – The US Federal Reserve will launch its financing programme, worth up to $1,000bn, for consumer and business loans in the coming days, amid concerns that hedge funds might find it difficult to take advantage of the scheme.
The programme – the term asset-backed securities loan facility (Talf) – is the cornerstone of the US authorities’ push to jump-start the credit market. Officials at the central bank say it will be up and running by the end of this month.
Fed and Treasury officials say this is an essential complement to efforts to repair the banking system. The idea is to boost the supply of new credit-card loans, student loans and car loans by providing low-cost finance to investors who buy these loans bundled up as securities in the secondary market.
But the Talf relies on private-sector investors being willing and able to take advantage of the financing the Fed makes available.
Consultations have revealed potential obstacles to participation. The most significant of these are limits on the ability of investors who use Talf finance to buy an asset to transfer the loan when they sell it.
An asset sold with low-cost three-year financing attached would command a higher price than an asset that had to be financed in distressed private markets at the point of sale.
Moreover, most hedge funds do not have permanent capital so they have to consider the risk that redemptions could force them to sell the assets before the three years are up.
WBT – U.S. stocks appeared headed for a rebound Tuesday as investors awaited the start of a two-day meeting of the Federal Reserve that is widely expected to bring another reduction in interest rates.
The sharp rise in stock market futures contracts Tuesday was to be expected given the extreme volatility that has been the hallmark of Wall Street’s behavior for more than a month. At the same time, the sometimes light volume of futures trading can make it difficult to determine the market’s overall mood. In recent weeks, stock futures have moved solidly in one direction, while actual trading was more moderate after the opening bell.
A higher open would come as casualties from the global crisis piled up Tuesday: Whirlpool Corp. said it will cut about 5,000 jobs by the end of 2009, Iceland said it needs $6 billion and Germany said Pakistan must secure a loan from the International Monetary Fund within a week.
Arlington Heights Daily Herald – In a typical recession, stocks start recovering about six months before the economy does. The crisis the United States is in right now, however, is anything but typical: Lending is frozen, hedge-fund selling is happening on a massive scale, and economic troubles have spread all over the globe.
As a result, it’s possible the U.S. economy will need to show signs of strength before the stock market stabilizes and regains steam. So with readings getting darker by the day, expect more of the same this week: extreme volatility.
"Volatility’s here, and it’s here to stay," said Ryan Detrick, senior technical strategist at Schaeffer’s Investment Research. Last Friday, the Dow Jones industrial average finished down 312 points, "and it seemed like a victory."
Los Angeles Times – In a typical recession, stocks start recovering about six months before the economy does. The crisis we’re in right now, however, is anything but typical: Lending is frozen, hedge-fund selling is happening on a massive scale, and economic troubles have spread all over the globe.
As a result, it’s possible the economy will need to show signs of strength before the stock market stabilizes and regains steam. So with readings getting darker by the day, expect more of the same this week: extreme volatility.
Reuters – Hedge funds are keeping borrowings and risk low and seeking sanctuary in safe-haven assets during the current market turbulence, but some are beginning to see opportunities to make attractive investments.
The events of the past few days — the collapse of Lehman Brothers, the $50 billion sale of Merrill Lynch to Bank of America and the $85 billion rescue of AIG — have hit funds’ returns and caused many to cut back their bets.
"Managers have been reining in leverage given the extreme volatility in the market. Sentiment is so bad, people are loath to make big bets," said Jack McDonald, chief executive of hedge fund service provider Conifer Securities.
Eclectica Asset Management, co-founded by high-profile hedge fund manager Hugh Hendry, told Reuters its hedge fund had 140 percent of net asset value invested in mid- and long-dated German bunds.
Reuters – Hedge funds are keeping borrowings and risk low and seeking sanctuary in safe-haven assets during the current market turbulence, but some are beginning to see opportunities to make attractive investments.
The events of the past few days — the collapse of Lehman Brothers, the $50 billion (28 billion pounds) sale of Merrill Lynch to Bank of America and the $85 billion rescue of AIG — have hit funds’ returns and caused many to cut back their bets.
"Managers have been reining in leverage given the extreme volatility in the market. Sentiment is so bad, people are loath to make big bets," said Jack McDonald, chief executive of hedge fund service provider Conifer Securities.
Eclectica Asset Management, co-founded by high-profile hedge fund manager Hugh Hendry, told Reuters its hedge fund had 140 percent of net asset value invested in mid- and long-dated German bunds.
The remainder of its exposure is to bond yield swaps and soft commodities.
