Category Archives: Finance and Investments

Meanwhile, in Mexico…

How Options Saved Mexico’s Budget Nov-14-2008 | Source: Futures and Options Intelligence The news that Mexico has locked in prices of at least $70 a barrel for 90% of next year’s oil exports has surprised many traders, and demonstrated the … Continue reading

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TED spread madness

TED spread shot to all-time high in October, and then “subsided” to the level of ordinary panic:

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On real estate and interest rates

A question from Askville: What’s the impact of the Fed’s $500B bailout on real estate and interest rate? Will my mortgage interest rate drop dramatically in the next few months? (Planning to sell and trade up a bigger home for … Continue reading

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House prices by tier

CalculatedRisk has produced this chart based on data from Standard & Poors: Interestingly, the greatest price run-ups (and, more recently, the most dramatic price falls) are observed in the low-price segment of Los Angeles housing market.

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Hedge fund performance deteriorates

From Euromoney Online: HFs Suffer Worst First Half Since ’90 Jul-14-2008 Hedge funds got off to their worst start in nearly two decades in 2008, the Independent reports. The exception was Man Group, the giant U.K. alternative asset manager, which … Continue reading

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Hedge funds to consolidate?

Two articles from Euromoney Online: * * * * * Fewer, But Larger, U.S. HFs Up In 1H08 Jul-09-2008 (Source) The number of hedge funds launched in the U.S. in the first half of the year may have dropped 50%, … Continue reading

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An afterword to the housing bust

Source: Ben Inker, “Managing Portfolios in a World of Multiple Bubbles“, CFA Institute Conference Proceedings Quarterly, June 2008, Vol. 25, No. 2: 22-32

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Hedge fund launches hit a low

HF Launches Hit Eight-Year Low Jun-26-2008 | From Euromoney The number of hedge funds launched in the first quarter was the lowest for a quarter since 2000, Financial Planning reports. This is chiefly because of volatile market conditions and the … Continue reading

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Investing in times of high inflation

A question from Askville: What investments are best during times of inflation? It usually takes a while for the herd to shift directions (though I’m sure that many are betting on inflation already). What are the best areas to move … Continue reading

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On hedge fund start-ups

HF Start-Ups: Think Like An Owner Jun-16-2008 | Source: Hedge Fund Start-Up Survival Guide The best part of creating a new hedge fund may be the entrepreneurial spirit of the endeavor, yet that very mindset can result in a host … Continue reading

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