by Michael Panzner | Feb 15, 2016 | Portfolio Management
The bet that many investors made last year that the U.S. financial sector was heading higher seemed to have a lot going for it. The shares of banks and insurers were trading at “cheap” levels relative to earnings and book values. The Federal Reserve was... by Michael Panzner | Feb 8, 2016 | Hedge Funds, Managed Futures
Last year proved to be tough going for many hedge funds, with average returns hovering around zero. That said, aggregate assets under management continued to grow, though estimates vary about how much new money flowed into the industry. This likely stems from the fact... by Michael Panzner | Feb 1, 2016 | Hedge Funds, Portfolio Management
In theory, a bear market should be a godsend for activist investing. When share prices fall, shareholders, board members, senior managers and other stakeholders are likely to be more receptive than they might otherwise be to external suggestions and plans for creating... by Michael Panzner | Jan 25, 2016 | Angel Investing, VC and P2P, Pre-IPO Shares
An earlier article at Sophisticated Investor argued that the outlook for growth stage private companies, especially the $1 billion-plus technology “unicorns,” was looking shaky. Developments since then suggest the situation has gotten worse. For one thing,... by Michael Panzner | Jan 18, 2016 | Commodities, Portfolio Management
One of today’s more contentious debates centers on where the U.S. economy is headed. To some, the economy remains on an upward track, despite softness in some areas. To others, activity looks to have peaked, and the Federal Reserve’s December initiation of...
