Hedge Fund Brevan Howard’s Fortunes Blighted by Billions in Outflows and Management Row (Wall Street Journal)
For more than a decade, Brevan Howard traced a smooth upward path to become one of the most powerful hedge funds in Europe. In recent months, its fortunes have waned. Brevan is headed by Switzerland-based billionaire Alan Howard and cemented its reputation by making big gains during the credit crisis. Mr. Howard, 51 years old, who was born in England, ranked 12th in a recent list of the greatest hedge-fund managers compiled by LCH Investments NV, with net gains of $17.4 billion since his fund’s inception.
From Hedge Funds To Juice, And Back Again (CNBC)
Michael Karsch is hoping to apply the lessons of juice to hedge funds. The prominent investor closed his stock-focused Karsch Capital Management in 2013 after 13 years and peak assets of $3.4 billion. He then invested and helped build Juice Press, a New York-area chain of juice bars that sells ultra-healthy vegan beverages. The business, founded by former professional Thai boxer Marcus Antebi, has grown to more than two dozen locations and a valuation of $100 million, up from about $15 million when he first invested.
Bill Ackman’s Latest Pick: Fellow Hedge-Fund Manager Phil Hilal (Wall Street Journal)
Hedge-fund manager Bill Ackman has built a career off of making investment decisions. His latest pick: hedge-fund manager Philip Hilal. Mr. Hilal, age 38, plans to launch a stock hedge fund in the second quarter of this year called Clearfield Capital Management that will use both fundamental and event-driven strategies, said people familiar with the matter. It may also invest in some debt. Mr. Ackman said he’s committing the largest sum he’s ever invested with another hedge-fund manager, though he declined to say the amount.
Hedge Fund Analysts Take Uber Model to Recruiting (CNBC)
When Brett Adcock and Adam Goldstein were analysts at hedge fund Cedar Hill Capital covering the staffing and headhunting industry, they noticed something missing: technology. So in March 2013, they decided to hire a team of eight engineers and shake things up. Their firm, Vettery, specializes in placing professionals in roles at investment banks, private equity firms, hedge funds and other high-finance positions.
Hedge-Fund Bulls Betting Most on Gold in Two Years: Commodities (Bloomberg)
Hedge funds are the most bullish on gold in more than two years, betting the metal’s allure will strengthen as slowing economies in Europe and Asia threaten U.S. expansion. Speculators increased their net-long position by 80 percent this year, U.S. government data show. The U.S. economy expanded at a slower-than-forecast pace in the fourth quarter and Federal Reserve officials acknowledged global risks at the end of their policy meeting last week.
Secret hedge fund shorts revealed (CNBC)
Six hedge fund managers gave their best investment ideas at an exclusive—and private—conference, including new bets against companies. The investors were part of a session to present one long and one short idea each at Morgan Stanley’s “Breakers” conference, put on annually by the bank’s hedge-fund-servicing unit at the posh Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach, Florida.
