Oct
7
October 7, 2008 | Leave a Comment
If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
HedgeCo Networks LLC announced the launch of the next generation online analytical and reporting tool, the Hedge Fund Calculator. Available as a monthly or annual subscription service, the Hedge Fund Calculator was designed for hedge funds and funds of hedge funds, and facilitates the rapid computation of quantitative statistics, net performance numbers and the creation of branded marketing materials.
Read More Here
calculator, hedge funds, hedgeco
Oct
7
October 7, 2008 | Leave a Comment
It wasn’t easy, but Congress finally stepped up and passed a government bailout agreement that many hope will help move the domestic economy and global financial system out of their prolonged “depression” (well, maybe not literally). The bailout vote represented quite a difficult decision for most reps who knew it would be unpopular with many folks at home (especially in an election year). Despite some early partisanship and self-serving motives, both branches finally signed on and opened the government’s checkbook to the tune of $700 billion (plus another $150-ish billion in pork and tax breaks). Meanwhile, Wachovia toyed with Citi’s emotions by accepting its initial buyout proposal, only to “better deal” them when Well Fargo came courting again. Equities tumbled on the initial bailout vote failure and remained volatile for the rest of the week. Even in the aftermath of the plan’s passage, traders sold off stocks to end the week on a very sour note. The corporate credit markets remained in disarray as businesses continue to experience funding challenges. With a little luck, this bailout plan will help and Congress can breath a sigh of relief for their actions this week.
Attached/linked please find And That’s The Week That Was, the Brounes & Associates market/economic commentary for the week ended October 3, 2008.
Coming up this week: Fed Policy Meeting Minutes (Tuesday), Trade Balance (Friday)
700 billion, bail out, Citi, Fed, hedge funds, wachovia
Oct
3
October 3, 2008 | Leave a Comment
It’s been nice knowing you. Merrill Lynch, Lehman Brothers, AIG, Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, Wachovia, Washington Mutual, and the list goes on. During the past three months, the financial world as we once knew it changed forever and analysts are still trying to assess what the consolidations (not to mention, nationalizations) mean for the future. Stocks plunged throughout the quarter (again) as investors struggled to find a safe place to put their hard earned dollars (no, money markets are too risky these day). Confidence is indeed lacking and that is the heart of the issue: confidence in the economy.confidence in the markets.confidence in our nation’s leaders.confidence to lend.confidence to borrow.confidence to spend.confidence to invest. Prices of energy and other commodities returned to earth this quarter so the inflation fears have been laid to rest (at least for today). The Fed and the Administration struggle to come up with a plan that Congress can approve to help ease the strains of the credit crisis. Any chance the legislators can ever move beyond hateful partisanship and show some real leadership?
Attached (linked) please find And That’s The ‘Quarter’ That Was, the Brounes & Associates market/economic commentary for the period just ended
September 30, 2008.
AIG, bailout, fannie mae, freddie mac, lehman, merrill lynch
Oct
2
October 2, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Citadel Investment Group, L.L.C. today announced three senior hires that will further expand the firm’s capabilities in the global fixed income business. Timothy Bryan Wilkinson, a former head of fixed income proprietary trading at Lehman Brothers, will join Citadel’s proprietary trading group along with John Alexander Goodridge, also from Lehman. Alex Maddox will join Citadel as Head of Securitized Products in Europe. They will report to Patrik Edsparr, Head of Global Fixed Income and CEO of Citadel Europe.
Read more here
citadel, fixed income, new hires
Sep
7
September 7, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Labor Day symbolizes the end of summer and the time when investors and traders get serious for the homestretch of the year. Hopefully, this past week was not indicative of their market mindset and many are just easing back to work. Weaker than expected retail and labor releases overshadowed the reduced inflation concerns (lower oil) as investors returned from the holiday and sold stocks. While Gustav turned out to be somewhat of a non-event (unless you were one of the unfortunate who lost power and sustained flood damage), investors overlooked the continued retreat in commodity prices and traded equities lower based on the sluggish economy. (Then again, maybe they were simply too caught up in Palin-mania to even focus on the markets.)
Attached/linked please find And That’s The Week That Was, the Brounes & Associates market/economic commentary for the week ended September 5, 2008.
Coming up in the week ahead: Balance of Trade (Thursday), Retail Sales (Friday), PPI (Friday)
funds, gustav, hedge, inflation, labor, sarah palin
Sep
7
September 7, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Our bad … we didn’t post this when we should have.
See the attached.
EDHEC, fund, hedge, hedge funds
Sep
3
September 3, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Gardner Finance AG (Gardner) announced the appointment of Ms. Antje Urwyler as an investment professional in its Portfolio Management department.
Mrs. Urwyler’s key past responsibilities include serving as VP, Head Manager Selection & Strategy Analysis at Credit Suisse, Switzerland, where she was responsible for the due diligence and monitoring of hedge fund managers and strategies for Credit Suisse’s alternative investment portfolios. She was involved in the structure & process definitions, management and the growth of the bank’s alternative investment unit. In her last position, Ms. Urwyler was Director, Head of Investment Office and part of the executive management at one of Credit Suisse’s subsidiary’s in sourcing hedge fund managers to the bank’s single manager access platform.
She holds a Master’s degree in Economics from the University of Basel and a bachelors degree from the Friedrich-Schiller University in Jena.
More about Gardner Finance AG
antje urwyler, finance, gardner
Sep
3
September 3, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Obama vs. McCain. Biden vs. Palin. Experience vs. Change. War vs. Diplomacy. Middle Class vs. Wealthy. Tax cuts vs. Deficits. Clinton vs. Giuliani (oops, that never quite played out). These themes will be repeated again (and again and again and again) as Americans try to figure out who represents the best hope to lead this country for the next four years. Once upon a time, Corporate American and Wall Street favored Republicans; however, all bets seemed to be off in 2008 (if the campaign money trail means anything). Once again, the markets experienced light volume (and exaggerated price movements) as traders and investors took advantage of the Labor Day holiday (and the lower gas prices). All eyes are on the Gulf as Gustav threatened to put a damper on some of the recent favorable developments on the oil price front. Enjoy the holiday and the final lazy days of summer. And let the partisan name calling and political bashing begin. Any Swift Boat sightings yet this year?
Attached/linked please find And That’s The Week That Was, the Brounes & Associates market/economic commentary for the week ended August 29, 2008.
Coming up this week: Labor Day (Monday), Construction Spending (Tuesday), ISM - Manufacturing (Tuesday), Factory Orders (Wednesday), Fed Beige Book (Wednesday), ISM - Services (Thursday), Unemployment Rate (Friday), Nonfarm Payroll Additions (Friday)
biden, election, gustav, mccain, obama, palin
Aug
26
August 26, 2008 | Leave a Comment
The stock market tumbled. The stock market rebounded. Oil prices soared. Oil prices plunged. The excessive volatility could only mean one thing. The summer is winding down and traders are on vacation. When volume is light, price movements in many major markets tend to be exaggerated based on the moods of those unfortunate folks who happen to be working (and guess what kind of mood they are in when their buddies are in the Hamptons or even Beijing). In any case, the pessimists emerged early on poor inflation numbers and new scares about Freddie and Fannie. By week’s end, Bernanke eased some fears and Lehman rumors brought some joy back to financials. Hope that R&R was worth it.
Read more in the attached/linked please find And That’s The Week That Was, the Brounes & Associates market/economic commentary for the week ended August 22, 2008.
Coming up this week: Existing Home Sales (Yesterday), Consumer Confidence (Tuesday), New Home Sales (Tuesday), Fed Meeting Minutes (Tuesday), GDP - 2nd Quarter (Thursday), Personal Income/Spending (Friday)
Fannie, Freddie, oil, prices, volatility
Aug
15
August 15, 2008 | Leave a Comment
This (energy) trend is definitely our friend. Despite the “cold war”-like feel in the Russia/Georgia (not Atlanta) dispute and a decrease in last week’s inventory levels, energy traders failed to buck the latest trend as consumers and business alike are hoping for an even greater reprieve at the pumps in the coming days (weeks). While many of the latest economic releases point to continued weakness AND inflationary pressures (the worst of both worlds), the reduced energy prices will not show up in the data for, at least, another month of two. Financials struggled again with more write-down, losses, and regulatory settlements, though the general mood on Wall Street seem a tad more upbeat. Not a bad way to end the summer.
Coming up in the week ahead: PPI (Tuesday), Housing Starts (Tuesday), Leading Economic Indicators (Thursday).
Attached/linked please find And That’s The Week That Was, the Brounes & Associates market/economic commentary for the week ended August 15, 2008.
conflict, energy, georgia, inflation, prices
