Soros Fund Management Chairman George Soros waits to deliver a speech at the Central European University in Budapest, November 3, 2011.
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Can anything stop the smart money?
Since 1992, hedge funds have exerted increasing clout in world affairs. A bet against the pound by George Soros ultimately led to Britain's rejection of the euro zone. The skulduggery at Enron was suspected by Kynikos Associates long before regulators were aware of problems. And the onset of the 2008 crisis was brought about, in part, by hedge funds.
Now, a soft-spoken New York hedge fund manager is staring down Argentinian president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner over upaid bond fees. According to the New York Times, only one thing can thwart the will of hedge funds.
Gold mining investors are growing restless
Shares in gold miners are heading for their first back-to-back annual slump since 1998, while gold prices hover near all-time highs. Investors are reacting by buying physical gold, pushing out underperforming executives or shifting into silver.
Warren Buffett's evolving stance on share buybacks
He used to call share buybacks a waste of money, but the Berkshire Hathaway chief spent $1.2-billion today on Berkshire's Class A shares at $131,000 a pop.
2012 was a very bad year for IPOs
And it's all Facebook's fault.