BOSTON (Reuters) – Billionaire hedge fund manager John Paulson, whose bet against the overheated housing market made him one of the world’s wealthiest people, became a lot richer last year.

By earning an estimated $5 billion in 2010 thanks mainly to bets the economy would recover, Paulson likely set a record for the $1.9 trillion hedge fund industry’s biggest-ever year’s earnings. He beat his own record, which he set in 2007 with a $4 billion haul made off the subprime bet.

The Wall Street Journal first reported Paulson’s payout in its Friday edition, and investors familiar with Paulson’s portfolios said the number is likely correct given the manager’s asset size and his recent profitable bets on Citigroup (C.N) and gold.

More generally, Paulson’s eye-popping payday confirms that hedge funds are still Wall Street’s gold mine, where hefty fees make hundreds of managers extremely rich. But it also underscores concerns among investors that they may not always be getting their money’s worth, especially when hedge fund returns lag behind the broader markets.

For Paulson, who now ranks among the likes of Warren Buffett and Pimco’s Bill Gross as the world’s most closely watched investors, the payday comes after he reversed deep losses in his funds halfway through the year. And it may finally put to rest speculation that his investing prowess was limited to one lucky bet during the subprime era.

“He did it on the short side and on the long side,” said Brad Alford, founder of Alpha Capital Management, which invests with hedge funds. “He proved that he can really do it all.”

Other prominent managers like Appaloosa Management’s David Tepper and Bridgewater Associates’ Ray Dalio likely also earned 10-figure paychecks, the Journal reported.

EYEBROWS RAISED

Thanks to a spurt in December, John Paulson’s $7.7 billion Advantage Plus Fund ended the year up 17 percent. That is not much more than the Standard & Poor’s 500 index’ 15 percent gain but it surely returned more in fees to Paulson & Co than to a mutual fund manager overseeing a portfolio tracking the index.

Now the payouts for Paulson and his fellow top hedge fund managers at firms managing over $20 billion are sure to raise new questions about managers’ high pay even for low returns.

Overall, the average hedge fund gained 10.5 percent last year, lagging the S&P; and falling short of the industry’s own 19 percent return in 2009, data from Hedge Fund Research showed. But managers will still collect 2 percent management fees and about a 20 percent cut of their gains.

In Paulson’s case, the fact that his 17-year-old firm Paulson & Co oversees about $35 billion fattened up his payout. To be fair, Paulson also invests his entire fortune in his funds and since his gold fund gained 35 percent, his investment gains added billions to his payout.

For other managers, including ones who lost money, however, the industry payouts may seem less fair, investors and analysts said.

“People are fine with hedge fund fee structures as long as they are making great returns,” said Stewart Massey, who invests with hedge funds at Massey, Quick & Co. “But where they get antsy is where managers have middling returns and the managers are still making a lot of money.”

As hedge funds look for new investors, experts say that investors’ demands on pay will hold more sway. A push from some investors to set a so-called hurdle rate, or minimum accepted rate of return, for manager pay, or to reward them only if they exceed certain benchmarks may gain traction.

ROAD TO BIG PAYDAYS

The big paydays at hedge funds are likely to confirm that hedge funds can be modern-day gold mines on Wall Street and spark even more movement from the world of banking and mutual fund management into this asset class.

“Many of these big hedge fund managers are now earning more than professional athletes,” said Kenneth Murray, president of Mercury Partners, which recruits staff for hedge funds. “And they can do this for the rest of their lives, unlike sports stars who have to find another job after the age of 35 … 100 percent, hedge funds are the places where everyone wants to be.”

But he and other recruiters agree that as the industry matures, it is becoming harder for newcomers to break in, and that portfolio managers need to bring long records of top performance before getting a job. Also, with investors becoming pickier, it is harder to raise a lot of money.

“If you’ve been in the game and successful, you may be set for life, but for everyone else it is becoming tougher,” Murray said.

(Editing by Robert MacMillan; Editing by Gary Hill)

(1888PressRelease) December 09, 2010 – DUBAI, UAE – How does interest-based finance contribute to global warming? And how does Islamic finance provide an alternative? Ethica Institute of Islamic Finance, the Dubai-based training and certification institute, explores these and other topics in a live webinar on Sunday, December 12, 2010 at 6pm (Dubai time).

Ethica looks at how interest-based finance imposes unnatural demands on humans and nature, and explains how Islamic finance offers an ethical alternative. The webinar also shows attendees how to get involved and concludes with a live Q&A.;

Ethica’s Managing Director, Atif Khan said, “The connection between interest-based banking and global warming is rarely made. Yet, across the globe, every summer gets hotter and every winter gets milder. We need to make this connection and understand the true humanitarian cost of compounding interest and the demands it places on the Earth and us.”

Between 1980 and 2007, the summer Arctic ice area shrank from ten million square kilometers to four million square kilometers. At this rate, the Arctic will be almost free of ice within fifteen years and the sun, with no large ice sheet deflecting its light, will have free reign to warm our oceans at will. Rising sea levels and increasing global heat are not part of a natural, glacial shift in the Earth’s weather patterns, as some of those in moneyed quarters might have us believe, but rather a dramatic environmental shift all happening in a blink of the Earth’s archaeological eye. It is caused by us. A fact easily measurable from carbon data in ice stratigraphy dating back millions of years.

About Ethica Institute of Islamic Finance: In 2010, Ethica (www.EthicaInstitute.com) was chosen by more professionals for Islamic finance certification than any other organization in the world. The Dubai-based institute received the award nomination for “Best Islamic Finance Training Institution” in 2009 and 2010 by Islamic Business and Finance Magazine. Ethica’s clients include banks, universities, and professionals in over 20 countries.

Registration is available on a limited first-come, first-served basis at www.facebook.com/EthicaInstitute. For more information about this article, or to schedule an interview with Ethica Institute of Islamic Finance, please call Sameer Hasan at +971-4-305-0782 or e-mail at info ( @ ) ethicainstitute dot com.

European equities markets were higher Thursday on the likelihood that Ireland will get a bailout for its banks to the tune of tens of billions of euros, and after an index of leading indicators was up for a fourth consecutive month in the United States and the US Labor Department reported that fewer Americans filed first-time claims for unemployment benefits last week.

The FTSE 100 was up 1.34 percent to 5,768.71 in London, while the FTSE 250 added 1.22 percent to 10,844.4.

Brewer SABMiller (LSE: SAB) added 5.12 percent to lead gains on the 100 after it reported that its profits were up by 15 percent in the first half, while defense technology company QinetiQ Group (LSE: QQ) was the best performer on the 250, adding 13.64 percent on first-half earnings that were above analysts’ predictions and ahead of earnings in the same period last year.

Basic resources companies, including miners, were higher, led by gold and silver miner Fresnillo (LSE: FRES) with a gain of 5.05 percent, while there were only two decliners in the sector as papermaker Mondi (LSE: MNDI) fell 1.88 percent and African Barrick Gold (LSE: ABG) dropped 0.83 percent.

The energy sector was also mostly higher, led in gains by oil and gas engineering and well support company John Wood Group (LSE: WG), which was up 2.68 percent, while the four decliners in the sector were led by oil rig builder and refurbisher Lamprell (LSE: LAM), which led declines on the 250 as it fell 13.74 percent.

The worst performer on the 100, meanwhile, was product inspection, testing and certification firm Intertek Group (SLE: ITRK), which was 6.26 percent lower on the session.

The travel and leisure sector was mostly higher, led by online gambler PartyGaming (LSE: PRTY), which was up 5.55 percent, followed by a 4.4 percent gain for British Airways (LSE: BAY) after French airline Air France-KLM (Euronext: AF) raised its outlook on profits.

Business processing outsourcer Capita Group (LSE: CPI), which administers television licenses for the BBC, was down 4.43 percent after it said that budget cuts by the government were hurting sales of the licenses.

The FTSE Eurofirst 300 was up 1.34 percent to 1,107.07 while the IBEX added 1.33 percent to 10,3253, the Dax was 1.97 percent higher to 6,832.11 and the CAC-40 gained 1.99 percent to 3,867.97.

There were no decliners on the Dax and only one decline on the CAC-40.

Markets in the Asia-Pacific region were higher as investors had fewer worries about China’s measures to curb inflation after it looked as if the government there would concentrate on controlling prices in specific sectors rather than imposing broader controls to cool the economy.

The Nikkei 225 was up 2.06 percent to 10,013.6 in Tokyo, while the Topix index added 2.18 percent to 868.81 and the Mothers market gained 1.05 percent to 372.3.

Banks and brokers made significant gains as Mitsubishi UFJ (TYO: 8306) added 4.3 percent, while Mizuho Securities (TYO: 8606) was up 6.99 percent, Shinsei Bank (TYO: 8303) was 7.14 percent higher and Resona Holdings (TYO: 8308) gained 9.17 percent.

Exporters were higher as the yen weakened versus the euro.

Watchmaker Citizen Holdings (TYO; 7762) was up 1.17 percent, camera and copier maker Canon (TYO: 7751) was 1.26 percent higher, consumer electronics manufacturer Sony (TYO: 6758) added 2.19 percent and optics and imaging group Olympus Corp (TYO; 7733) gained 2.85 percent.

The Straits Times Index was 0.1 percent higher to 3,215.22 in Singapore and India’s Sensex added 0.33 percent to 19,930.6 after both returned to trade after holidays yesterday, while the Taiex was up 0.34 percent to 8,283.45 in Taiwan.

In Australia, the SP/ASX200 was also 0.34 percent higher, to 4,640.2 while the Sydney Ordinaries gained 0.38 percent to 4,722.8.

The Shanghai Composite added 0.94 percent to 2,865.45 in China, South Korea’s Kospi was up 1.62 percent to 1,927.86 and the Hang Seng gained 1.82 percent to 23,637.4 in Hong Kong.

In New York, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 1.68 percent to 11,193.1 at just before 1 p.m. local time, while at the same time the SP 500 had added 1.84 percent to 1,200.26 and the Nasdaq Composite was 2 percent higher to 2,525.44.

Crude oil prices were higher in New York and London, while metals prices were up as gold added $13.70 per troy ounce in early afternoon trade in New York.

(1888PressRelease) July 29, 2010 – It’s startling that despite its underdeveloped infrastructure, India is predicted to achieve growth of up to 9.4% in 2010. According to the Planning Commission of India, GDP growth is held back by 1.5-2% every year because of a bottleneck in infrastructure expansion. Corporate India is reporting strong growth and earnings but if India is to push through the double-digit growth barrier in the coming years, it needs much more investment – both public and private – in the power generation, transport and communications networks that support fast growing industry and services.

The recent windfall received by the Indian Government from its highly successful 3G and Broadband Wireless Access auctions has swelled government coffers. The auction for 3G spectrum ensured an inflow of USD22.8bn, over three times the original estimate of USD7.5bn from both the 3G and Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) spectrum auctions. The auction for BWA spectrum too had successful bidders committing over USD8.3bn. While these funds will be used primarily to lower the country’s fiscal deficit, they give the country a stronger position from which to press ahead with its ambitious plans for infrastructural development.

The Government’s next five-year plan, starting in 2013 looks set to include $1 trillion of infrastructure development, with around half of this likely to come from private funds. This follows the $300 billion set to be spent in FY11 and FY12.

The Government has already moved to streamline its policy framework to allow a bigger role for the private sector. This is an economic necessity, but also offers wider opportunities for investors. Special units have been set up to quickly resolve issues relating to land acquisition, and there are plans to revamp the contract model for Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) projects, to make it easier for the private sector to tender.

Meanwhile, India is beginning to establish a reputation for delivering on landmark projects, such as the new state of the art terminal at Delhi airport. With the Commonwealth Games just around the corner, the integrated terminal is the second largest in the world. Built by a consortium comprising the Airports Authority of India, German-based Fraport AG, and Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd, the project is a shining example of what can be achieved through public private partnerships. It took just 37 months to complete and will be capable of handling 34 million passengers a year.

The new joint venture between French industrial engineering major Alstom, state-owned Bhel, and Nuclear Power Corporation is another example of the rise in public-private partnerships. The project will tap around 45,000 mw nuclear power expected to come up in India over the next 10-15 years . While these internationally significant projects grab the headlines, India is addressing its infrastructure issues at every level with the Government targeting to build around 20 kilometers of new road every day. This would require an estimated annual spend of $8-10bn.

Confidence that projects involving public-private partnerships can be delivered successfully means that the logic behind Indian infrastructure investment is more convincing. With levels of activity increasing, getting ‘on board’ with the infrastructure growth story has perhaps never been more interesting.

* Nitin Jain manages the investment strategy of Kotak’s 4 Luxembourg-domiciled UCITS III SICAVs, including the India Infrastructure Realty Fund. The fund primarily invests in listed shares and equity linked instruments of companies directly or indirectly linked to the infrastructure and realty sectors in India.”

Please Note:

This is a general commentary based on the analysis and opinions of the fund management team of the Kotak group and is not intended as a recommendation or for the purpose of soliciting any action in relation to any investments, or to be otherwise relied upon for any purpose. No liability is owed to any persons in respect of the content on this page. Kotak Mahindra (UK) Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority in the United Kingdom, by the Dubai Financial Services Authority and by the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Kotak Mahindra Inc is a member of FINRA.

(1888PressRelease) June 22, 2010 – Guarantying returns on investments in the days of economic slowdown is a boon in itself for investors.Chuck Hughes is an established trader who has the credit of achieving exceptional investment returns for more than 24 years.Being a trading specialist; Chuck Hughes has made the ETF trading strategies to follow the trends with the most innovative ways of approach. While most investors are pulling out of investment programs due to the negative returns from the stock markets and not because of failed strategies; the Chuck Hughes ETF Trading Strategies come as a boon to many new investors.

The Chuck Hughes ETF Trading Strategies have been developed using proprietary trading systems which follow the changing market trends and have made to garner positive returns that are exceedingly high in more than 20 years of implementing it.Sources say that the recent times have been difficult for investors but those who have diversified and been disciplined have the added advantage over the others.The popularity of the Chuck Hughes ETF Trading Strategies has remained unfazed even with the downturn of the market.

The Chuck Hughes ETF Trading Strategies show investors the essentials and techniques to help get the optimum from investments. Even when the market is in volatile times; the Chuck Hughes ETF Trading Strategies have never failed giving investors a silver lining in the dark cloud of recession. Simple methods and planning make the Chuck Hughes ETF Trading Strategies effective. Profits are bound to make their appearance with the time-tested methods used by the Chuck Hughes ETF Trading Strategies.

The key-factor of the strategies made use by Chuck Hughes is innovative and unique with exceptional returns made by him during the time when the Wall Street going from bad to worse. The Chuck Hughes ETF Trading Strategies have been proven successful time and again and the previous years gains attest this statement perfectly. Guaranteed returns on investments and attractive options when investing have made the Chuck Hughes ETF Trading Strategies more effective than anything else for investors.

About Chuck Hughes:

The most innovative financial trader; Chuck Hughes has been dealing with trading stocks, options, currencies and commodities for over 24 years. His simple trend following systems that trade with the changing trends has been one of his greatest developments. Purchases are made when the price trend is escalating and when the price trend goes downhill; the Chuck Hughes ETF Trading Strategies recommend selling short. Chuck Hughes started his career in 1984 when he began with a $4,600 trading account. His first two years made more than $460,000 in profits and it has crossed over $4.5 million profits from then till now.

(1888PressRelease) May 28, 2010 – Now before we get into the specifics on this one, let’s first answer the question: What is run-of-river hydro?

Plutonic defines it quite well, stating that run-of-river projects do not actually require any damming of water. Instead, some of the water in a river is diverted and sent into a pipe called a penstock.

This penstock feeds the water downhill to a generating station. The natural force of gravity creates the energy required to spin the turbines that in turn generate electricity. The water leaves the generating station and is returned to the river without altering the existing flow or water levels.

All of Plutonic’s component specifications and construction methods are consistent with providing the least amount of environmental and visual impacts.

In fact, in a comparison of environmental impacts, the Ontario Power Authority shows run-of-river hydro to have less of an impact than solar and wind. And of course it rates much better than oil and coal.

“In a comparison of environmental impacts, the Ontario Power Authority shows run-ofriver hydro to have less of an impact than solar and wind. And of course it rates much better than oil and coal.”

Shaw Capital Management Korea News: Operations. Plutonic Power is in the process of building out a number of run-of-river hydro projects in Canada. The first to go online will be the East Toba and Montrose project, which is expected to begin operations later in 2010.

The combined installed capacity of this one will be 196 megawatts. All the electricity to be generated from this project will be sold to BC Hydro under a 35-year sales contract.

In the third quarter 2009, 74 percent of the project’s plant construction was completed, and 73 percent of the penstock was completed. 79 percent of the construction of the transmission line was completed.

Shaw Capital Management Korea News: Other projects include: Upper Toba Valley Project (3 facilities). Estimated installed capacity of 166.3 megawatts when completed. Bute Inlet Project (17 facilities). Estimated installed capacity of 1,030 megawatts when completed. Freda Creek Project (1 facility). Estimated installed capacity of 35 megawatts when completed.

The BC Hydro Connection. In June, 2008, BC Hydro launched a Clean Power Call to develop new energy operations. A Request for Proposals followed for projects using proven technologies, such as hydro, wind, solar and geothermal.

This Clean Power Call aligned BC Hydro with the BC Energy Plan which calls for 90 percent of electricity in the province to come from clean or renewable sources and for all new electricity generation projects to have zero net greenhouse gas emissions.

The intent here for BC Hydro is to successfully negotiate power purchase agreements with those chosen from a long list of proposals. … Plutonic is on this list.

And on November 19, 2009, Plutonic Power received notification from By Hydro that the Bute Inlet and Upper Toba Valley Projects will be approved. These projects were proposed jointly with GE Energy Financial Services.

The GE Connection. In August of 2006, Plutonic Power granted GE Energy Financial Services the exclusive right to make a $100 million equity investment and provide $400 million in debt financing for its East Toba River and Montrose project.

In return for the equity investment, GE gets a 49 percent equity stake and 60 percent economic interest in the project. Now by the time BC Hydro issued its request for proposals, GE had given an equity contribution of about $79.3 million and extended about another $71.3 million credit for the East Toba River and Montrose project.

GE also formed a join venture with Plutonic last June 2009 to purchase an uncompleted 144-megawatt wind project in northeast BC. This is the largest wind power project under construction in British Columbia. Given British Columbia’s recent announcement that it’s going to establish a ‘Green Energy Advisory Task Force’ to help advance the Province’s climate, Plutonic Power is in a good position.

While Plutonic is knows for run-of-river hydro, this deal allows the company to further develop green assets in Canada. The purchase of this wind project was completed on December 11, 2009. Given British Columbia’s recent announcement (November 2, 2009) that it’s going to establish a ‘Green Energy Advisory Task Force’ to help advance the Province’s climate, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build a greener economy, Plutonic Power is in a good position.

Shaw Capital Management Korea – Investment Innovation & Excellence. We provide the information, insight and expertise that you need to make the right investment choices. Shaw Capital Management Korea typically offers its clients such services as asset allocation and portfolio design; traditional and non-traditional manager review and selection; portfolio implementation; portfolio monitoring and consolidated performance reporting; and other wealth management services, including estate, tax, trust and insurance planning, asset custody, closely held business issues associated with the establishment or expansion of a family office, the formation of family investment partnerships or LLCs, philanthropy, family dynamics and inter-generation issues, etc.

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