LONDON, May 29 (Reuters) – Hedge funds are piling into bets
against the bonds of core euro zone countries like Germany and
France, signalling a growing fear that nations once considered
safe havens could be dragged down by the crisis in peripheral
states like Greece and Spain.

After a buoyant first quarter for markets, when fears over
the euro zone debt crisis receded thanks to a 1-trillion-euro
($1.3 trillion) cash boost from the European Central Bank, hedge
funds have been quick to make sure they don’t miss out as
concerns over the future of the single currency resurface.

LONDON (Reuters) – It’s the day after Cambridge physicist Stephen Hawking’s 70th birthday party and David Harding, the head of one of the most successful hedge funds in the world, is bubbling with talk of black holes.

Given the financial crisis of the last few years, some might see that as an unwise topic of conversation for a hedge fund manager. But for Harding, a physicist, the geekier the better.

LONDON (Reuters) – It’s the day after Cambridge physicist Stephen Hawking’s 70th birthday party and David Harding, the head of one of the most successful hedge funds in the world, is bubbling with talk of black holes.

Given the financial crisis of the last few years, some might see that as an unwise topic of conversation for a hedge fund manager. But for Harding, a physicist, the geekier the better.

LONDON, May 21 (Reuters) – It’s the day after Cambridge
physicist Stephen Hawking’s 70th birthday party and David
Harding, the head of one of the most successful hedge funds in
the world, is bubbling with talk of black holes.

Given the financial crisis of the last few years, some might
see that as an unwise topic of conversation for a hedge fund
manager. But for Harding, a physicist, the geekier the better.

LONDON, May 18 (Reuters) – The “disastrous” consequences of
a return to the drachma mean there is no chance of Greece
leaving the euro, said hedge fund firm Toscafund.

The fund’s chief economist Savvas Savouri said in a research
note for clients that Greeks will vote for parties that back the
euro and Greece’s 130 billion euro ($165 billion) bailout in
next month’s elections despite the spending cuts, wage
reductions, tax rises and privatisations that go with it.

LONDON (Reuters) – Hedge funds are holding out for further gains from their bets against JPMorgan’s massive position in U.S. credit derivatives, racking up tidy profits from a lucrative trade that could cost the U.S. bank more than $3 billion.

Managers – some of them ex-employees of the biggest U.S. bank – started betting in credit derivative markets, including on an index of credit default swaps against its constituents, during the first quarter, believing JPMorgan’s huge positions had created dislocations in the market which would disappear over time.

LONDON (Reuters) – Hedge funds made small profits in April, according to a new performance index, even as global shares sank amidst the market fears over Spain’s deepening debt crisis and signs that the U.S. economy was slowing.

The GlobeOp Hedge Fund Performance Index, which tracks the performance of the majority of hedge fund services provider GlobeOp’s $187 billion in assets administered, rose 0.51 percent, taking returns so far this year to 3.66 percent, the firm said in a statement.

NEW YORK/LONDON (Reuters) – Pressure on Chesapeake Energy Inc’s embattled chief executive increased on Monday as a small London hedge fund urged the company’s board to terminate Aubrey McClendon, while a well-known activist investor was reported to be building a position in the company.

London-based Noster Capital sent an open letter to Chesapeake’s board on Monday asking the No. 2 U.S. natural gas producer to remove McClendon as details of his financial dealings emerge.

LONDON (Reuters) – The chief executive of beleaguered hedge fund manager Man Group sought to defend his position, saying shareholders supported him despite further withdrawals of clients’ money and poor returns from its flagship fund.

Peter Clarke has been under growing pressure as the company’s (EMG.L: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) share price has fallen by almost 60 percent since September, sparking market talk of a takeover or a change of management.

LONDON, May 1 (Reuters) – Man Group said clients
pulled out less of their cash in the first three months of this
year than in the previous quarter, raising hopes that the
beleaguered hedge fund manager may soon stabilise its business
after a dire past six months.

The firm, whose share price has fallen by almost 60 percent
since September due to investor outflows and poor performance
from its flagship fund, said clients withdrew a net $1 billion
in the three months to March 31.