And now the end is near – or is it?
Last week I had the pleasure of celebrating Frank Sinatra’s 101st birthday at his old haunt, Patsy’s on West 56th Street. The afternoon was one full of serious Sinatra talk as well as discussions on pretty much every topic other than the retirement of David Ortiz. We covered quite a bit of ground over the […]
Why hedge funds matter
Over the last six months, maybe longer when not covering the Presidential election, the popular press has had its guns pointed at one thing: the hedge fund industry. This is not a new phenomenon; in fact at this point it’s status quo. When things are bad, blame hedge funds; when things are good, […]
It is all about the volatility
Over the last few weeks, months, perhaps even a year or so, the markets have been extremely volatile. Concerns about Brexit, the Presidential election, a lackluster global economy, political unrest, Federal Reserve policies, you name it, have caused extreme uncertainty and frustration. And while the market continues to hit new highs and progress, albeit slow, […]
All is not lost
As protestors continue to march in the streets, the world is coming to grips with a President named Donald J. Trump. The peaceful transition of power is currently under way and this act alone makes the United States — regardless of one’s view on the President elect – the envy of world. It is truly […]
Is it morning again in America?
Donald Trump’s stunning victory has sent shock-waves around the world, roiled the global financial markets and left many asking how, why — and really? The reality is that the reality television star tapped into something that the mainstream politicians missed or were afraid to address. People of all shapes, sizes, races, creeds and color are angry. […]
We Are Not in Kansas Any More
This just in: Investors demand performance! This headline has been crashing the tape over the last few weeks as investor after investor seems to be complaining that they want their money managers to deliver actual good results, to stop just charging fees and to start delivering returns. I am shocked, shocked I say, to learn […]
And the hits just keep on coming
The hedge fund industry has clearly taken a number of shots this week and last. The news of the insider trading suit at Omega and that Perry Capital is winding down has left many folks scratching their heads wondering what is next. A lot, perhaps. In a recent interview with Bloomberg Surveillance, “hedge fund legend” […]
One bad apple does not spoil the lot
“Innocent until proved guilty”: I’m sure that I’ve read that somewhere. And while this is the law of the land, many believe it is the other way ’round. The minute someone is charged with a crime or even merely accused of an illegal act, the press, the public and the people jump to conclusions, often […]
It is not the crime, it is the coverup
If you believe the popular press, the hedge fund industry is in a death spiral. Performance of alternative investments is in the tank, investors are ticked off about fees and assets are flowing out rather then in. Well, I for one don’t buy it. Yes, it’s true that performance hasn’t been great this year. Yes, […]
It is about offense AND defense
The nation is settling into quite an interesting election season now that we’ve passed Labor Day. The candidates are gearing up for a series of debates as they battle for the highest office in the land. And while the country waits with baited breath to hear what will come out of Mr. Trump’s mouth and […]