Description: The quants are winning.Hedge funds that rely on computer programs to trade are producing some of the highest returns in the industry after a particularly profitable November. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: Dec 12, 2014 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-12-12/this-hedge-fund-s-machines-are-making-the-right-calls-on-oil.html Questions for Discussions: What does the report say about these funds and the reasons for their success? What is… Read more »
Posts Tagged: Debt
The problem with hedge funds
Description: AQR Capital Management co-founder, Cliff Asness, breaks down some pros and cons of hedge funds. Source: Fortune.com – video report Date: Nov 24, 2014 Link: http://for.tn/1tflPYk Questions for Discussions: What does Cliff Asness have to say about hedge funds and hedge fund investors? What do you think of his commentary?
Alibaba Said to Seek $8 Billion in Bond Deal for Loan Repayment
Description: Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. (BABA) is planning to raise as much as $8 billion as soon as next week in its first U.S. bond sale, just two months after the Chinese company completed the biggest public stock offering ever, according to people with knowledge of the matter. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: Nov 13, 2014 Link:… Read more »
Blackstone’s $26 Billion Hilton Deal: The Best Leveraged Buyout Ever
Description: In the early spring of 2009, with the recession deepening, Christopher Nassetta stood alone in an empty house in Arlington, Va., surrounded by moving boxes and trying not to despair. Source: Businessweek.com Date: Sep 12, 2014 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-09-11/blackstones-hilton-deal-best-leveraged-buyout-ever#r=nav-f-story Questions for Discussions: Summarize the financial highlights in this story. Do you agree with assessment that… Read more »
Was it really a record-breaking summer for stocks?
Description: Bloomberg’s Mike Regan discusses the summer’s market movements with Matt Miller on “Street Smart.” (Source: Bloomberg) Source: Bloomberg.com – video report Date: Aug 29, 2014 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/video/was-it-really-a-record-breaking-summer-for-stocks-Y0wgnB9_QzO2faMmLfjC6g.html Questions for Discussions: Summarize the commentary and analysis presented in this report on the markets. Do you agree with this view? Where do you see things heading?
Why Target will pull out all the stops to save face in Canada
Description: It only took 15 months after Target Corp. made a wildly hyped venture into Canada before someone sounded a death knell for the mass merchant. Source: FinancialPost.com Date: Aug 22, 2014 Link: http://business.financialpost.com/2014/08/22/why-target-will-pull-out-all-the-stops-to-save-face-in-canada/ Questions for discussion: What is the financial damage to Target due to its poor performance? How would you deal with the… Read more »
Canada’s very own private-equity giant Onex quietly tops returns of big-name U.S. rivals
Description: The best performer of the biggest publicly traded private-equity firms this year won’t be found among U.S. giants such as Blackstone Group LP or KKR & Co. The leader is Canada’s own contender, the dark horse in the race, Gerry Schwartz’s Onex Corp. With a 15% stock gain, Onex is running well ahead of… Read more »
Tesla debt: An electric lemon?
Description: Tesla debt may have gotten a junk bond rating from Standard and Poor due to concerns about its ‘niche’ market status. But investors in Tesla stock still have faith in Elon Musk. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: May 28, 2014 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/investing/2014/05/28/n-tesla-electric-cars-elon-musk-bonds.cnnmoney/index.html Questions for Discussions: Explain the differences in thinking by Tesla bond… Read more »
El-Erian: Cautious optimism about Greece’s return to capital markets
Description: Renewed access to financing must not divert the debt-troubled nation from implementing critical economic reforms. Source: Fortune.com Date: Apr 03, 2014 Link: http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2014/04/03/el-erian-caution-optimism-about-greeces-return-to-capital-markets/?iid=SF_F_River Questions for discussion: Summarize El-Erian’s assessment of investing in Greek debt and how the Greek government is managing that debt. How would you categorize the risk associated with Greek debt today?
Who Needs Banks? PayPal and Lending Club Want to Make Small Business Loans
Description: Lots of companies have tried to use technology to improve small business lending with data, collecting information about merchants from their social media profiles, online accounting software, and reviews to help lenders decide whether to make loans. Alternative companies such as OnDeck and Kabbage have succeeded at increasing loan volumes and speeding approval times. But… Read more »
