by Doug Friedenberg The passing of a profound individual usually triggers recitals of the great man’s accomplishments, and we’re experiencing that with the passing of Steve Jobs, for good and honorable reasons. But that leaves out what may be the most interesting and relevant understanding to be gleaned from his life, especially since Mr. Jobs did [...]

What's it all about, this alpha? And for that matter, where is it? Dr. Bob Swarup tackles the real meanings of alpha and beta.

Ron Resnick, a co-founder of CounselWorks, argues that the current debt crisis debate is a red herring which obscures the harsh reality that the federal government is already effectively insolvent. I have remained blissfully undisturbed by the twists and turns of the political  battles being waged in Washington, D.C. over the debt ceiling, federal government spending, [...]

This is the first of a new series called "Alpha Hunters." The nimble qualities of alternative investments is part of what makes them essential to every investor's portfolio. They can move quickly to take advantage of market inefficiencies and go where other more traditional investment vehicles cannot. It is in the spirit of seeking the ever-moving alpha that we introduce this series, reaching out to experts in different strategies to see where they are finding alpha. We hope you find this series illuminating and please feel free to send suggestions for Alpha Hunters you'd like to read about. Kristin Fox Managing Editor

What's the difference between a hedge fund and a fund from one of the largest mutual fund companies in the world? Not much when you look closely.

"Recovery Phase"? Does that mean hedge funds are "recovering" or we now need to send in a "recovery team" to find the bodies?

Sophisticated institutional investors are redefining the term "tree hugger".

Think you don't own any alternative investments? Thing again.

A new academic study examines how equity betas jump with the release of earnings announcements. It seems that, as in the hedge fund industry, a dearth of information can lead to an over-reaction when news is released - even if that news is about a competitor.

Estimates of the amount of attrition in the hedge fund industry over the past year have ranged as high as 36%. So we were surprised to learn last week that one study says the total number of funds fell by a paltry 1.3% last year.

A report covering the entire fund management industry shows that alternative investments remain a somewhat less-than-significant proportion of all assets under management.

A survey of European investment professionals suggests that out-dated knowledge may be to blame for failure to adopt modern portfolio construction techniques.

For years regulators have been told that hedge funds create systemic risk and social problems. But with new regulations on the agenda for 2009, governments are starting to hear another side to the story.

Our field trip to Asia this week reveals that dueling jurisdictions of Hong Kong and Singapore are microcosms for the challenges faced by hedge funds around the world.

A study published in this quarter's Journal of Alternative Investments finds that "seasoned" funds of hedge finds might suffer from being too entrenched in their ways.

A study shows that hedge funds with a high ($1m+) minimum investment level tend to do better than those with a smaller minimum investment. Good for institutions - but not for retail investors.

Hedge fund seeding is back in the news this week. But unlike a year ago, the news is not all that good.

Was there a lesson to be learned from a very Madoff-esque fraud in the late 1990's? One journalist says yes - that hedge fund registration may not actually help that much.

A survey of hedge fund compensation suggests that MBAs have a higher salary, but a lower bonus than non-MBAs. So what does this mean when the axe starts to fall?

A 2006 academic study and a 2008 SEC form filled out by Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC raise some interesting questions.

Asset-weighted hedge fund indexes are beginning to factor in the various Madoff feeder funds, causing massive drop-offs in performance - particularly in market neutral sub-indexes. So do we now need a new "No Bernie" index?

"Slashing" can get you thrown out of a hockey game. But in 2009, it just might keep asset managers in the game.

AllAboutAlpha contributor Timothy Laing reports from the floor of Hedge Funds World Zurich this week.  Below is some of what Laing heard in the hallways at the storied Dolder Grand hotel.  (The hotel was built in 1899 as a health spa.  So this year, there is probably no better venue for the hedge fund sector [...]

In an article released today by Alpha magazine, AQR's Clifford Asness says that quant funds can still profit from new opportunities and that they are actually far more transparent than most fundamentally-driven funds (or than the "HAL 9000", for that matter).

Reports suggest that the hedge fund sector died on the operating table this fall. But apparently some of the surgeons are refusing to sign the death certificate just yet.