A great combo: the multi-manager moving towards a longer game (eFinancialNews)
Asset managers are increasingly combining their funds of hedge funds and funds of long-only funds into a single combined multi-manager business. The move reflects the increasingly blurred line between hedge funds and long-only funds in the single-manager sphere, and the rise of regulated structures such as Ucits that lie somewhere between the two. Axa Investment Managers has just completed combining its long-only multi-manager and its fund of hedge funds businesses under one umbrella.
Soros’ group tells chaplains to boycott prayer (WND)
A “faith” organization that gets money from “Open Society” founder and left-leaning 1 percenter George Soros says it doesn’t want chaplains to participate in a prayer meeting. The organization called Faithful America has launched an online petition discouraging the official chaplains of the U.S. House and the Senate from praying at this weekend’s Presidential Inaugural Prayer Breakfast.
Little-known stocks George Soros loves (TheGlobeAndMail)
A look at the smaller-cap stocks held by billionaire hedge fund manager George Soros. Most are not household names, but they do have interesting and unique business strategies. Charles Lieberman, the founder of Advisors Capital Management, has developed a successful equity-oriented strategy that is geared toward investors at or near retirement and designed to provide generous income. Four leading indicators of major market tops suggest the bull market is on shaky ground. The “January barometer” indicator suggests the first trading week of the year foreshadows what’s to come. Don’t believe it.
Wall Street Legend Jim Rogers Mulls Investing in Bulgaria (Novinite)
Wall Street legend and highly successful international investor, author and commodities expert, Jim Rogers is considering investing in Bulgaria. Bulgaria is among the few countries, in which he is considering investing right now as they have made the most improvement since his latest trip around the world, the billionaire, currently based in Singapore, said in an interview for Gold Radio Café. He joined the broadcast for a brief discussion on his new book, Street Smarts: Adventures on the Road and in the Markets. The Balkans are in terrible conditions, but Bulgaria is a place which is working towards changes, according to Jim Rogers.
Greek eurozone exit still likely despite European leaders resolve, warn economists (Telegraph)
Nouriel Roubini, nicknamed Dr Doom for correctly predicting the 2008 global financial crisis, said commentators had underestimated the resolve of the Greeks and European leaders said the Greek exit from the 17-nation bloc was now a “less likely event this year, although not a zero possibility”. The economist now believes there is a 30pc chance of the debt-laden country leaving the eurozone, but that increases to a 50pc chance of an exit in the next three to five years. “Politics don’t trump everything,” Mr Roubini told Bloomberg. “It’s a factor, but it’s not as if it overrides everything else.”
Speculators Boost Bullish Bets Most Since November (Bloomberg)
Hedge funds raised bullish commodity wagers by the most since November as a jump in U.S. housing starts and the first acceleration in Chinese growth since 2010 drove prices to a three-month high. Speculators increased net-long positions across 18 futures and options by 4.3 percent to 682,521 contracts in the week ended Jan. 15, the biggest gain since Nov. 27, U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission data show. Wagers on a soybean rally rose for the first time in four weeks on signs of improved demand for supplies from the U.S., the biggest exporter. Gold holdings rebounded from the lowest since August.
Monster Beverage Shares Take a Spill (WSJ)
Shares of Monster Beverage Corp (NASDAQ:MNST) tumbled Friday, continuing their rocky ride amid heightened scrutiny of the health impact of energy drinks. The stock’s latest price swing came after three Democratic lawmakers sent letters Thursday to more than a dozen energy drink makers—including Monster, the leading seller in the U.S. by volume—requesting more information on their products and marketing claims. A short position by a hedge fund also could have fueled Friday’s brusque movements, according to Wall Street analysts. Monster shares dropped 4.05%, or $2.02, to close at $47.82 in 4 p.m. trading Friday …
