Gabriel KurlandBy Gabriel Kurland: On November 12, 2009, the U.K.’s Serious Fraud Office (“SFO”), an independent government department that investigates and prosecutes fraud and corruption cases, announced that it is probing the London-based, Dynamic Decisions Capital Management Ltd., after the matter was referred to it by the Financial Services Authority.

Jeffrey RathgeberBy Jeffrey Rathgeber -- In our travels we've come across this belief a few times, although much more so recently: "It's very hard for a diligence team to get to first base when it comes to examining a hedge fund manager for possible insider trading."

James BibbingsBy James Bibbings -- For years traders, brokers, and money managers have been able to operate within the over-the-counter retail foreign currency markets (“forex”) with very little regulation.  As a result, trillions of dollars and millions of clients have traded within the industry with little standardization or legal oversight; that is until now. 

Genna GarverBy Genna Garver, John Brunjes, and Cheri Hoff of Bracewell & Giuliani -- On Oct. 27 the Private Fund Investment Advisers Registration Act of 2009 (H.R. 3818) moved one step closer to becoming law with the 67-1 approval of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Financial Services (the "Bill").

By Joe Randle -- Web-based systems have made client communications for hedge fund managers more efficient and economical than ever before, but the question remains: How secure is your data? 

By Dani Holt-Lyman -- After a period marked by unprecedented declines in alternative assets under management, institutional and private investors are now scrutinizing funds' operational support infrastructures more closely than ever as they begin to return to the sector.  

By Oliver Prock -- The already written off hedge fund sector has reinvented itself after last year’s crisis. Everybody is talking about “UCITS hedge funds” as a new and innovative concept for meeting clients’ increasing demands of consistent returns, market independence and capital protection.

Graham MillerBy Graham Miller – High-frequency trading (HFT) could use a good image consultant.  Everyone from Floyd Norris to Chuck Schumer (D-NY) have questioned the validity and even legality of high-frequency strategies, as they have taken over from exchange floor specialists as the mainstream media’s favorite whipping boy. 

By Charles Hage -- Hedge fund investors should be alert. Some fundamental practices in wide use contain significant levels of misguidance that undermine the quality of the investment process.

By Burton Weinstein -- Corporate bonds have posted among the best returns of any asset class in 2009.  Specifically, the Credit Suisse High Yield Bond Index and the Merrill Lynch High Yield Master Index have returned 34.9% and 37.4%, respectively, through August 31.