Size acts as barrier to growth of Asian hedge funds

Two smaller Asian hedge funds that have bet on Thai and Southeast Asian stocks have made a killing this year, racking up more than 80 percent gains and ranking among the world's 100 top-performing hedge funds.

SEC could focus on secondary market platforms

US securities regulators are looking at how investors trade shares in four privately held companies, according to reports, but the inquiry may broaden to the exchanges and trading platforms that facilitate these transactions, experts said.

European debt crisis a boon for British blogger

When British economist Edward Hugh set up a blog that repeatedly predicted the euro could not survive, few people took notice. Not any more. With the European single currency facing its greatest challenge since it entered into general circulation in 2002 in the wake of the bailouts of eurozone members Greece and Ireland, his posts are now read by thousands of bankers, financial analysts and other policymakers around the world.

South Korea's KAMCO to buy $4.4 billion bad loans

Korea Asset Management Corporation (KAMCO) will buy about 5 trillion won ($4.38 billion) worth of bad loans from financial institutions and assets from companies under restructuring this year, local media said on Sunday. The planned purchase amount is a third of KAMCO's purchases set for 2010 a year earlier.

Confident German firms still see risks in 2011

Germany's upbeat companies see the eurozone debt crisis and uncertainty over economic growth in the United States as the main risks for 2011, a Reuters poll of four major business groups showed on Dec 28. Buoyed by growing domestic demand that is helping the economy power ahead of weaker eurozone peers, however, the concerns contrast sharply with record confidence as business morale rose to its strongest level since 1991 in December.

No need to raise funds for SIFI rules: Mizuho CEO

Japan's Mizuho Financial Group can meet additional capital requirements without raising funds if it becomes subject to stricter global rules under consideration for banks deemed "too big too fail", its CEO said.

Wall Street ends year with strong gains

US stocks closed out a year of double-digit gains and the S&P's best December since 1991 with a quiet and little changed session on Friday as investors found no reason to make big bets ahead of the new year. Improving economic indicators late in 2010 and stimulative measures from the US Federal Reserve propelled gains in the second half of the year, overcoming headwinds from Europe's sovereign debt crisis and continued high US unemployment.