Category Archives: Investment management

Russia Sanctions Blowback Only Beginning: Globalization in the Crosshairs, Russian Retaliation Coming?

More on how sanctions against Russia are boomeranging.

Where Did You Go, Vice President Joe? Biden Retreats from Bashing Looting, Um, Buybacks

Yet another Biden hypocrisy: refusing to curb stock buybacks when he flagged it as an abuse when he was Vice President.

Europe’s Sustainable Taxonomy Is a Sideshow

The EU taxonomy grossly simplifies a complex and dynamic world. It might help prevent green-washing but other tools are needed to guide green investment.

The Private Equity Industry in the New Interest Rate Environment

Private equity has been a big winner thanks to a long-term trend of falling interest rates. What happens in a less favorable environment?

Is 4% the “Magic Number” for Mortgage Rates to Prick the Housing Market (and Stocks)?

Is the housing market about to hit a tipping point?

Financialization at Heart of Economic Malaise

Sadly, finacialization is still very much with us, even though policy-makers know better by now.

Does Limited US Shale Spending Guarantee Higher Energy Prices?

Reduced shale investment is set to lead to sustained higher prices. That’s good for the planet but hard on budgets.

SEC Investigating Possible Block Trading Abuses at Morgan Stanley, Goldman, Other Big Players

Mirabile dictu! More seriousness from the SEC!

Wrong Way CalPERS: Dumping $6 Billion of Private Equity After Struggling to Put Money to Work and Then Increasing Target

CalPERS is trying to do something more obviously nonsensical than usual.

Judge Rules CalPERS Violated Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act by Holding Improper Closed Session After Ben Meng Resignation

CalPERS got a bloody nose in court. Maybe the board will wise up and behave better in the future.

Share Buybacks Surge to Record Ahead of Potential 1% Tax: Companies Buy as Insiders Dump like there’s No Tomorrow

Buy High, Don’t Buy Low. Prices are sky-high and but company buybacks are red hot.

Bloomberg, Other Publications Criticize CalPERS’ Leverage on Leverage Plan to Boost Returns While Missing Additional Types of Borrowing

CalPERS, which has lagged nearly all other public pension funds’ performance, is doubling down on failure by resorting to leverage.

Endowments’ Money Management Destroying Value Demonstrates Economic Drain of Asset Management Business

How endowments, the supposedly best and brightest fiduciaries, are destroying value.

Finance Group Fails To Deliver at COP26

Finance, which some see as uniquely positioned to save the planet, has already bankrolled 1.5֯ C of warming.

An Increase in Interest Rates Would Be An Act of Class Warfare

While increasing interest rates to combat this inflation is bone-headed, the Fed has long wanted to be out of super low rate terrain.