Business

Yesterday, we highlighted the all too eerie coincidence that the very first hedge fund (not mutual fund) to gate investors late on Friday, was operated by none other than the two former heads of distressed/high yield trading of the bank that started it all, Bear Stearns.

Today, things get even eerier, because while we already have the Bear Stearns link, an even more curious coincidence emerged when according to the BofA-Merrill index of "CCC and below" bond yields, the index just hit 17.24%, soaring nearly 2% in just the past two weeks, and rising fast.

Submitted by David Stockman via The Daily Reckoning blog,

We are nearing a crucial inflection point in the worldwide bubble finance cycle that has been underway for more than two decades. To wit, the world’s central banks have finally run out of dry powder. They will be unable to stop the credit implosion which must inexorably follow the false boom.

We will get to the Fed’s upcoming once in a lifetime shift to raising rates below, but first it is crucial to sketch the global macroeconomic context.

Submitted by Peter Schiff via Euro Pacific Capital,

By Chris at www.CapitalistExploits.at

Years ago I had the misfortune of sitting adjacent a colleague who was a pretentious moron. We were both young and of no real importance at the investment bank which had hired us. This particular guy became so entranced with the absurd things that rich people with more money than sense can fall victim to.

Submitted by Dominique Dassault of Global Slant

Serial Debate About Hedge Fund Performance Fees Is Feckless While Management Fee Debate Is Legitimate.

As many hedge funds are getting “crushed” this year it has become fashionable to bash the industry’s entire fee structure…typically [but not always] 2% management fee & 20% of profits. Obviously, there won’t be too many 20% profit distributions to the portfolio management teams this year but the 2% management fee has been/will be applied. And that may “piss off” some people.