Quote from Pa(b)st Prime:
A zillion hedge funds a zillion different strategies. The vast majority of previous solid performers were in de facto short premium trades like carry trades or option writing.
One of the points seldom if ever picked up by the financial press is that the "leverage" on these positions wasn't just naked but spreads. IOW's LEH wasn't using 40-1 to get naked long toxic. They were long 6% toxic financed with 4% borrowings. That trade produced 2% unleveraged. Kick it up 20x and now it produces 40%. As long as the toxic pays back principal at maturity then bad marks are just something to add into. Until of course there's actual principal risk. Then you're done. At heart these swaps vs. Treasuries (or even lower yielding toxic) were no different than yen carry trades etc. The yield trade exactly resembles a short put on the spread with the carry being akin to collecting premium.
Is this some kind of joke?Quote from flytiger:
I'm working on getting prominent Jewish Americans, folks whose community was damaged by a corrupt and captured SEC, to help me force immediate change. So far, I have had some success.
Many prominent people read these threads; some PM's I have received have been very instrumental to investigator types.
If anyone reading this can/will help, please PM me. I will warn you. You may be in direct dealings with enforcement types. If that bothers you, I ask you to get over it. It's time to clean up DC. But if you can help in our endeavour, now is the time.
Again, I want prominent Jewish Americans, or their organizations, particularly charities, to help us lobby for immediate change of the regulatory system.
And I take no joy in peoples' lives being destroyed either, Susannah.
Quote from scriabinop23:
So bottom line, how do you think this goes down? Do you think investors are going to panic sell all funds because they don't trust anyone anymore? Mutual funds, hedge funds, etc.. out the window ? Save under the mattress and buy gold?
Honest thoughts...