Friday, July 8, 2011

Insight on Friday's EUR/USD move

More on the EUR/USD move higher, and despite all the wide ranging reasons behind why the currency pair has gone completely against its positive correlation with the equity indices, the over-riding factor is that a large Asian name was a big buyer of from the low 1.4200's. Having taken out stops through the Thursday lows, the familiar trading account emerged and bought up the pair in some pretty hefty amounts. Whatever the views on how and where the employment stats would impact, there is no disputing that the above is the key factor in this afternoon's (eventual) move. The Asian account holds a large 1.40/1.47 DNT structure, which is set to roll off inside the next 2 weeks, and is choosing to 'smooth' FX moves when we get anywhere near the outer limits of the range. For now, we see expiries at 1.4330, 1.4335 and 1.4340 keeping trade up at these levels. SM

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Chained CPI to save $300 Billion over 10 years


What is “chained CPI,” and why should you care?


One proposal in the budget talks that is getting a serious look from all sides would switch the government’s way of measuring inflation and delivering a big impact on tax, spending, and entitlement programs.
How big? It could save roughly $300 billion over 10 years. That big.

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Christopher Pettengill pleaded guilty $190 Million Forex Fraud closing case

http://www.loansafe.org/minnesota-man-pleads-guilty-in-connection-with-trevor-cook-ponzi-scheme (Source: FBI) MINNEAPOLIS—Earlier today in federal court, a 54-year-old Plymouth man pleaded guilty to lending credibility to and ultimately persuading others to invest in a multi-milliondollar Ponzi scheme orchestrated by Trevor Cook. Christopher Pettengill pleaded guilty to one count of securities fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and one count of money laundering. Pettengill, was who charged on June 13, 2011, entered his plea before United States District Court Chief Judge Michael J. Davis.


http://blogs.citypages.com/blotter/2010/04/trevor_cook_ple.php ​Trevor Cook pleaded guilty today in federal court to leading a $190-million Ponzi schemebased in part out of the Van Dusen mansion in Minneapolis that obliterated the investments of at least 1,000 victims while he lived high on the hog and paid off gambling debts.


http://www.startribune.com/business/90751939.html?page=all&prepage=1&c=y#continue 

Minneapolis money manager Trevor Cook admits to $190 million scam

EES Analysis markets update

Markets lack direction mid-NY session.  Hourly Bollinger signals a long for EUR/USD / reversal to fibo 1.4350/ 1.4380/1.44 though news from Europe may keep EUR offered throughout the week.  USD/CHF near all time lows @ .8300 -JG

Friday, July 1, 2011

The 25 Best Hedge Funds Of Q2 2011


Based on our calculations here are the 25 best hedge funds of second quarter:


FundNo. StocksQ2 Return
Corriente Advisors317.7%
Hawkshaw Capital Management414.0%
LaGrange Capital813.4%
Manatuck Hill Partners1012.6%
Lane Five Capital611.5%
Icahn Capital LP910.4%
Criterion Capital89.8%
Accipiter Capital Management89.4%
OrbiMed Advisors388.7%
Arrow Capital Management98.4%
Solus Alternative Asset Mgmt.48.1%
Akre Capital Management137.3%
White Elm Capital87.2%
Silver Capital Management LLC117.0%
Halcyon Asset Management26.9%
Amber Capital66.8%
JANA Partners96.7%
ValueAct Capital96.5%
Visium Asset Management676.5%
Scout Capital Management106.2%
Gates Capital Management106.1%
Healthcor Management LP256.0%
MHR Fund Management16.0%
Brencourt Advisors105.9%
Trian Partners65.8%


Read more: http://www.insidermonkey.com/blog/2011/07/01/25-best-hedge-funds-of-q2-2011/#ixzz1QuRTC4Qc


http://www.businessinsider.com/the-25-best-hedge-funds-of-q2-2011-2011-7

Internal Latency Checker - DPC

http://www.thesycon.de/deu/latency_check.shtml

If any kernel-mode device driver in your Windows system is implemented improperly and causes excessive latencies of Deferred Procedure Calls (DPCs) then probably drop-outs will occur when you use real-time audio or video streaming applications. For an explanation of this effect see Background information below.

The DPC Latency Checker tool determines the maximum DPC latency that occurs on your Windows system and thus enables you to check the real-time capabilities of your computer. DPC Latency Checker works independent of any external hardware. Using this tool may be helpful in the following situations:
  • You experience interruptions (drop-outs) in a flow of data processed in real-time, for example an audio stream, video stream or a sequence of measuring data, and you want to find out the reason for this problem.
  • You want to verify that your Windows system is configured properly so that it is capable of handling real-time data transfer before you install the corresponding streaming application.
  • You want to check if a particular computer system is suitable for streaming applications, for example before you buy this system.

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Eurocrats one step closer to Tobin Tax

http://www.cityam.com/news-and-analysis/fury-eurocrats-vote-tobin-tax The tax would levy a 0.05 per cent fee on the total value of “every type of financial transaction” that goes through any institution in Europe, pushing up the cost of economic activity at a time when the region is struggling to stage a convincing recovery.

It would hit the foreign exchange markets particularly hard

Kitco offices raided - 175 tax agents issue warrants, seize documents

Quebec tax authorities raided the offices of one of Canada's largest gold trading and research firms, Kitco Metals Inc., probing whether the company and several others may have illegally avoided paying more than C$150 million (US$154 million) in Quebec sales taxes.

Revenu Quebec hasn't pressed any charges. But in a statement, it said it had reason to believe that Kitco, a privately owned precious-metals trader and research firm based in Montreal, worked with several entities and individuals in a scheme involving gold-bullion and gold-scrap transactions that allowed them to inappropriately collect provincial tax credits.

The agency also said it had reason to believe another privately owned Montreal gold wholesaler, Carmen International Inc., was involved in a similar scheme, as well as 124 other scrap-gold and precious-metals companies that served as intermediaries, or were complicit in the alleged fraud.
The total value of the alleged illegal transactions amounted to a total of C$1.8 billion and allegedly defrauded the government of more than C$150 million in taxes, the agency said.
Kitco said in a statement that Revenu Quebec's claims are unfounded and that it intends to contest the allegations. Joseph Chesir, one of the founders of Carmen International, declined to comment when reached over the phone Friday.
Revenu Quebec said 175 tax agents issued warrants and seized documents at 70 businesses starting on Tuesday. A Revenu Quebec spokeswoman said the agency is reviewing the documents before deciding whether to press formal charges.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304778304576377852269636870.html

Thursday, June 23, 2011

NFA uncovers D2W fraud

Scientists find city life more stressful than rural life


Scientists have confirmed what every urbanite has long suspected – life in the city is more stressful.
Researchers have shown that the parts of the brain dealing with stress and emotion are affected by living among the crowds.

The findings help shed light on why those who are born and raised in urban areas are more likely to suffer from anxiety, depression and schizophrenia than those brought up in the countryside.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2006988/A-rural-life-better-Living-concrete-jungle-really-stressful-make-vulnerable-depression.html#ixzz1Q7MIEACH

Greek budget concerns, oil drops, US Jobs data weak

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Nebraska Nuclear Plant Level 4: Catastrophic situation says report from Russia

A shocking report prepared by Russia’s Federal Atomic Energy Agency (FAAE) on information provided to them by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) states that the Obama regime has ordered a “total and complete” news blackout relating to any information regarding the near catastrophic meltdown of the Fort Calhoun Nuclear Power Plant located in Nebraska.
According to this report, the Fort Calhoun Nuclear Plant suffered a “catastrophic loss of cooling” to one of its idle spent fuel rod pools on 7 June after this plant was deluged with water caused by the historic flooding of the Missouri River which resulted in a fire causing the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) to issue a “no-fly ban” over the area.


Here's an interesting report from Pakistan's daily newspaper The Nation.
It cites a Russian regulatory agency as saying that the US is currently having a major nuclear emergency at the flooded plant in Nebraska and that the Obama Administration is trying to cover it up.
The Russian report describes the Nebraska situation as one of the worst nuclear accidents in the history of the United States.
Bear in mind that this report comes from Russia and Pakistan--two countries that aren't particularly happy with Obama right now.
But the FAA has enacted a no-fly zone over the Fort Calhoun nuke plant, which was damaged by a fire and flooding from the Missouri river.


Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/nebraska-nuclear-meltdown-2011-6#ixzz1PuuJ7iFB


Monday, June 20, 2011

Greece close to meltdown: Revolution, Power Outages, Chaos


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13830466 For more than three weeks protesters have occupied the square opposite the Greek parliament. They have pitched their blue and grey tents and hung their slogans from the orange trees.
"We got the solution. Revolution," declares one poster. "Rise up people of the world," urges another.
Inspired by the Arab uprisings, they have dug in to oppose further spending cuts in exchange for a second bail-out by the EU and IMF.
The encampment, however, hardly crackles with revolutionary fervour. It has the feel of an anti-globalisation village, nestled in amongst Africans selling handbag copies and bright-rimmed sunglasses.
The Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou is depicted as riding the CIA/IMF plane. He is portrayed as a capitalist stooge.

Start Quote

The mood is tinder dry. A city at a tipping point”
The activists bicker amongst themselves about real democracy.
"We have no leaders here," said one proudly. They go into contortions about interviews in case by speaking out it is judged as assuming a leadership role.

Sunday, June 19, 2011

CIA fears military coup in Greece


CIA fears a coup in Athens

This could be another Lehman moment

The difference in opinions over the Greek debt crisis between Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy may well be explained by the fact the French banking system is at more immediate risk from any meltdown than its German counterpart.
France is the most exposed of any developed country to Greece reneging on its huge debts.
The French are sitting on a £35billion exposure compared with £21billion for Germany, according to the Bank for International Settlements.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2004962/Greece-bailout-IMF-chief-warns-Greek-crisis-threatens-global-economy.html#ixzz1Pk33xdYw