The Pimco Total Return fund, managed by Bill Gross, reaped a $1.7bn gain following the US government takeover of home loan giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. While shareholders in Fannie and Freddie suffered deep losses, the worldâs biggest bond fund saw its biggest ever one-day rise against its benchmark index on Monday, benefiting from Grossâs bet on mortgage bonds issued by the agencies. Gross had made a big shift out of US Treasuries and corporate bonds over the past year and into agency bonds, betting the government would support Fannie and Freddie Mac. By May this year, more than 60% of his $132bn fund was in mortgage debt. On Monday, the fund rose by 1.3%, or $1.7bn. Gross, who co-founded Pimco and has managed the Total Return fund since 1987, was one of the first to call for a bail-out of Fannie and Freddie.
http://ftalphaville.ft.com/blog/2008/09/10/15750/bail-out-hands-pimco-17bn-gain/
http://ftalphaville.ft.com/blog/2008/09/10/15750/bail-out-hands-pimco-17bn-gain/

