A.E. Feldman Blog

Looks like being socially responsible doesn’t mean investors must forego higher returns. Now more than ever, investors are taking responsibility for environmental and social issues. Socially responsible investing (SRI) in the U.S. is currently growing at a much faster pace than the broader universe of all investment assets under professional management, according to the latest [...]

The focus on fair value accounting standards has intensified since the second half of 2007, following the subprime meltdown. Global banks have already written down more than $150-billion in subprime-related holdings and debt. Financial firms heavily exposed to subprime are now facing increased pressure from auditors to take bigger write-downs, according to WebCPA. Back in [...]

Emerging markets continue to attract record private capital flows. The Institute of International Finance (IIF) issued a recent report estimating that net private capital flowing into these countries jumped $200 billion last year to $782 billion. The IIF also predicts that these flows will remain strong in 2008. Dr. Josef Ackermann, Chairman of the Institute [...]

Following its first-ever fourth quarter loss last year, Morgan Stanley recently hired a Managing Director to overhaul the firm’s risk strategy, according to Bloomberg. The report states that Morgan Stanley Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, John Mack, is currently ramping up efforts to closely monitor risk-taking after bad bets on securities tied to subprime mortgages [...]

Citigroup has announced that it is reorganizing its U.S. wealth management unit in order to focus on serving clients based on their net worth, according to Investment News. The report states that under the reorganization, the bank will split the unit (which includes its Smith Barney retail brokerage and private bank) into four segments. The [...]

Sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) are increasing compensation packages to attract the talent needed to manage their expanding portfolios.  According to a recent FT report, the move by sovereign wealth funds to recruit their own experienced investment professionals reflects a shift from investing their money via third-party managers to investing it directly themselves. The FT contends [...]

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission has voted to seek private bids for toll projects, specifically the construction and management of 50 miles of new roads that comes with a price tag of nearly $5.2 billion. House Transportation Committee Chairman, Joseph Markosek, (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland) believes public dollars alone will never be enough to complete the project, given the [...]

Barclays Capital is investing heavily in Asia and plans to boost its staff in the region as well as in the U.S. significantly, according to a Dow Jones Financial News report. The report states that Barclays Capital will focus on building its derivatives and commodities business. But Barclays is just one several banks bullish about [...]

Private Equity funds investing in emerging markets raised $59 billion in fresh capital last year a staggering 78% increase over the $33 billion raised in 2006, according to the Emerging Markets Private Equity Association (EMPEA). The EMPEA says fund sizes in 2007shattered records and hit historical highs across multiple regions Fund growth also expanded to [...]

Following a record $9.83 billion fourth quarter loss, Citigroup replaced its Chief Risk Officer (CRO) for the second time in less than four months. Citi’s Chief Executive, Vikram Pandit, promoted Brian Leach to the bank’s top risk job. Leach replaces Jorge Bermudez, whom the bank said is retiring after serving at Chief Risk Officer since [...]