I take two weeks off from writing and nothing changes. Not sure if that is good or bad, but at least it is a bit amusing. Leading up to the holiday break, the papers (that is my blanket term for print and broadcast media) have been filled with stories of
It is clearly a crazy time, both in the markets and politically, around the globe. The markets are befuddled by the Federal Reserve’s interest rate hike, slipping equity prices and oil sliding lower daily. If that weren’t enough to keep people up at night, the increased threat of terrorism and
Once again the popular press has come out against hedge funds and the lack of performance year to date. Congratulations, Barron’s and Forbes, you are now part of the club of financial journalists writing the same story over and over again. Whether performance is good, bad, or indifferent, hedge funds
The sharks have smelled blood in the water, are circling, and are ready to chomp. Clearly, there’s excitement in newsrooms across the globe over a number of well-known hedge fund managers having once again suffered significant losses in November and that their year-to-date performance is abysmal at best. I won’t
I highly suggest reading Jason Zweig’s “The Intelligent Investor” column in last Friday’s Wall Street Journal. It‘s a great piece about why investors need to be wary of hedge replication products and other types of investments that track or follow well-known investment managers. He astutely points out that there is
The recent spat between Charlie Munger and Bill Ackman is quite amusing. Doesn’t Mr. Ackman know this is one battle that he can’t win? Regardless of whether he is right or wrong, to attack the Oracle of Omaha and his partner is like attacking Santa Claus. Buffet and Munger are
Hedge funds are clearly the evil that men and women do that live on and on. It is clear from recent reports in the media, comments from both sets of Presidential candidates, comments from the new Speaker of the House, comments from other members of the House and Senate, and
I am passing up the opportunity to write about hedge funds this week because, frankly, there isn’t anything to say. Performance has been poor; investors are complaining, rightfully; the press is balking at manager acumen; so, what is new? The answer: Nothing. Things in the industry are status quo. Big
Grant Achatz has become the latest top chef to embark on a culinary world tour, with plans to take his triple Michelin-starred restaurant Alinea to the foodie elite in Madrid. The move is scheduled to take place next January and will involve flying out his entire team to the Spanish
As summer draws to a close, the kids are back in school, the U.S. Open is over, the NFL playing for real (with TWO Monday night games) and anti-hedge fund rhetoric is everywhere. All the pundits seem to be over the top with joy that the funds were hit badly
TESLA is testing its latest autopilot feature with the electric car’s upcoming semi-autonomous tech being tested by Model S drivers. With the help of a camera, radar and an ultrasound sensor, the autopilot function includes automatic alignment behind other vehicles in all directions, a programmed adherence to speed limits and
Adidas has joined forces with Parley for the Oceans to produce their first concept shoe made from reclaimed materials from the ocean. Hosted by the United Nations, on June 29 Adidas celebrated its partnership with the organization Parley for the Oceans and showcased the result of their collaboration: footwear made
A Japanese company has created a limited-edition eel-flavored soda as a ‘refreshing’ summer treat. Produced by Kimura Inryou, a company based in Shizuoka Prefecture, which is famous for its unagi (eel), the drink is made of eel extract and bottles the salty, fishy, savory flavor of grilled, barbecue eel in
In addition to hitting the skies in May with a limited helicopter service for Cannes; Uber has now launched “UberBoat,” a private ferry service, in Istanbul, where it has had a presence for one year. It has teamed up with sea transport company Navette on the project. The speed boats
Dubbed an insta-zine by the Scottish distillery, the new issue of ‘W’ will offer news and insight in a way it hopes will chime with the design and technology conscious as well as the latest generation of whisky lovers. Split into three sections, issue one will examine the women changing
A 200-word essay and $125 is all it will take to become the proud owner of a bucolic New England inn, says its owner, who won the establishment in the same way. For more than two decades, Janice Sage has run the Center Lovell Inn, a majestic bed and breakfast
Uber has reached an exclusive partnership agreement with Hélipass to offer flight reservations between the Nice-Côte d’Azur airport and Cannes at 160 euros a pop. According to French channel BFMTV, this first-of-its-kind service in France will be tested out during the Cannes Film Festival, which runs May 13-24. THE UBER
New York’s powerful banking regulator announced Thursday its first license for a Bitcoin exchange, extending its influence over the growing but little-regulated virtual currency industry. New York City-based itBit Trust Co. was the first company dealing in so-called crypto-currency to receive a trust license from the state Department of Financial
Four Seasons has just revealed its completed private jet that it announced last year. This Boeing 757, equipped with a Rolls Royce motor, has seats for 52 passengers and has been luxuriously customized by a host of designers. The reclining white leather seats were handcrafted by Italian VIP aircraft seating
I hate to say it — in fact I don’t think I’ve ever said it in the more than 20 years that I’ve been working in and writing about hedge funds — but we might be at the top. The bloom, as they say, might be off the rose. You
Italy’s railway has renovated four lines that had fallen into disrepair, hoping rides along picturesque routes in 1920s steam trains will attract tourists. Officials said the objective is the development of a form of “slow tourism”, inspired by the slow food movement, that seeks to promote the different facets of
The ridiculousness of the uber riche hit an all time high this week in Japan and Qatar with purchases that show stupidity rather than status. Normally on the Good Life we highlight over-priced uber luxe living but millions for a special car number plate and thousands for two mangos… Super-rich
Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last decade or so, you haven’t missed the continued bashing of all things alternative by the mainstream press. Every day one news organization or another has something on how these managers are all the evil that people do. Alternative managers have
A whisky made in Taiwan has taken the title of world’s best single malt whisky 2015 for its “sweet pruney” flavors and dry, walnut finish. After Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible named The Yamazaki Single Malt Sherry 2013 from Japan the best in the world, another group has proclaimed the Kavalan
Famed auction house Sotheby’s and eBay launched yesterday their new live online auction site, live.ebay.com/lvx/sothebys. The site, hosted by eBay, will allow collectors to bid on auctions in New York from anywhere in the world as they happen, access live streaming audio and video of the sales, and view items
For those of you looking for hedge fund industry commentary this week, I am sorry to report that I have nothing to say on that front. It is true we did have a HEDGEAnswers call this week and it went well. If you would like a link to the podcast,
A group of top UK chefs that includes Raymond Blanc, Tom Kerridge and Anton Mosimann will be hosting pop-up dinners aboard luxury trains for train buffs who also have fine dining palates. Throughout 2015, the Belmond British Pullman and the Belmond Northern Belle will turn their luxurious art deco carriages,
The Bangkok-based restaurant Gaggan, which puts a modern spin on classic Indian dishes in a bid to bridge the gap between eastern and western fare, topped this year’s S. Pellegrino and Acqua Panna’s list of the 50 best restaurants in Asia, unveiled Monday night in Singapore. The fine dining of
