Gold holds below 2-wk high on robust dollar, U.S. economy
Gold held below a two-week peak on Tuesday, its safe-haven appeal dulled with the dollar near a four-year high and growing signs of strength in the U.S. economy.
Hedge fund
Gold struggles as stronger equities hurt safe-haven appeal
Gold steadied on Monday but failed to make any recovery from three straight days of losses as stronger global economic data and higher equities curbed the metal’s safe-haven appeal.
Uncertain platinum levels leave investors shy
Investors are unlikely to rush back into platinum any time soon after a minimal price reaction to its biggest-ever supply shock highlighted a major problem: no-one knows how much metal exists above ground or more importantly who holds it.
The hedge fund manager who made R100m “shorting” Abil
In this fascinating interview, 36One’s Jean Pierre Verster explains what made his hedge fund bold enough to “short” Abil – and bank R100m profit for clients as a result. JAN PIERRE VERSTER: We at 36ONE have been the most vocal in our views on the African Bank, and we did back that up by putting … Read more
Gold Drops in Longest Losing Streak in nearly 7 months
By A. Ananthalakshmi SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Gold slid for a fifth straight session on Monday in its longest losing streak since November, and hit a fresh four-month low, hurt by stronger global equities and weak physical demand in Asia. Spot gold fell to $1,240.69 an ounce, its lowest since early February, before recovering slightly to $1,243.40 … Read more
More regulation coming for hedge funds in SA
For a long time, hedge funds were the Wild West of the financial world. Because such funds were freed from the usual constraints that apply to collective investments and permitted to incorporate derivatives, shorts, and other risky financial instruments, hedge funds earned a reputation for being edgy – they delivered high returns, but they also … Read more
Pension funds should grab 15% private equity opportunity – John Oliphant
Head of the R1.4 trillion  Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF) John Oliphant has been in the news for the wrong reasons lately. Controversially suspended after being outspoken on broad Governance issues, five months after the event he still awaits a disciplinary hearing. Oliphant, who is highly regarded internationally, hasn’t crawled under a rock. In this … Read more
Paulson’s SEC filings shows he’s still bullish on gold
By Frank Tang NEW YORK, Feb 14 (Reuters) – Hedge fund Paulson & Co maintained its stake in the world’s biggest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, SPDR Gold Trust, in the fourth quarter, even as others exited when bullion prices posted their biggest annual loss in 32 years. Well-known manager George Soros bought shares in Barrick Gold Corp, one of the … Read more
Falling share prices: International investors eye money-making opportunities
Professional investors can find money-making opportunities in just about anything, from weather forecasts to fine wine before it is ready to leave the barrel. After a year of roaring returns, they are turning their attention to shorting publicly listed stocks in the US. This essentially entails selling shares you don’t have and buying them later when the … Read more
Exposed: Many professional analysts, fund managers don’t understand A and B share structures
If you’ve ever marveled at the number-crunching by stockbroking analysts and fund managers, you can take off your rose-tinted glasses now. South African hedge fund manager Maurice Shapiro can reveal that many don’t even know their As from their Bs when it comes to listed property share structures.  Yet, broking analysts are happily churning … Read more