Investing Basics

Investment bankers are a fickle lot. When the market takes a tumble, they tell their soon-to-go-public banking clients to withdraw their plans for an initial public offering (IPO). But when the market is stable and rising, as has been the case in recent months, then they scramble back to those clients, telling them the time to complete the IPO has arrived. As long as the market avoids an… Read More

Investment bankers are a fickle lot. When the market takes a tumble, they tell their soon-to-go-public banking clients to withdraw their plans for an initial public offering (IPO). But when the market is stable and rising, as has been the case in recent months, then they scramble back to those clients, telling them the time to complete the IPO has arrived. As long as the market avoids an air pocket in 2013, then the coming year could prove to be a very active period for IPOs. Indeed, we’re off to a good start: There have been $5 billion worth of IPOs completed thus far this year, according to Dealogic. The tech-heavy slate of upcoming IPOs will be led this week by a debut for Xoom, a fast-growing online money-transfer service. Here are 10 other fast-growing tech companies that are currently being cajoled by investment bankers to take the plunge. A few of them may end up in your… Read More

After 25 years of service, Leon Cooperman decided to retire as head of Goldman Sachs Asset Management in 1991. His retirement didn’t last very long. Cooperman quickly launched his own investment firm, Omega Advisors. Two decades later, approaching his 70th birthday, Cooperman is outgunning his hedge fund peers, many of whom are several decades younger. His firm has now amassed nearly $7 billion in assets under management.  We don’t yet know how he did for… Read More

After 25 years of service, Leon Cooperman decided to retire as head of Goldman Sachs Asset Management in 1991. His retirement didn’t last very long. Cooperman quickly launched his own investment firm, Omega Advisors. Two decades later, approaching his 70th birthday, Cooperman is outgunning his hedge fund peers, many of whom are several decades younger. His firm has now amassed nearly $7 billion in assets under management.  We don’t yet know how he did for all of 2012, but according to this report, Omega Advisors was up 27% through the first nine months of the year. A quick look at his top holdings shows the fund manager is still very much on top of his game. These 10 picks, accounting for 38% of his current portfolio, are all in the black. (Note that many of these stocks… Read More

My wife used to make fun of my fondness for fantasy sports — until the day that changed her mind. Before I had a kid, I played in every type of league you can imagine — even a NASCAR league, despite the fact that I am neither a fan of… Read More