Category: Media

Futures Magazine
James L. Koutoulas has formalized his group advocating on behalf of former MF Global customers and brokers and given it a name: The Commodity Customer Coalition, which is more than 2,500 strong and growing. And on Monday Koutoulas filed an objection to JP Morgan’s interim order that he claims could put JP Morgan interests ahead of MF Global customers whose funds are still frozen by the liquidation trustee.

Reuters
James Koutoulas, chief executive of Typhon Capital Management in Chicago, has gathered a loose coalition of around 1,200 MF Global customers who are also frozen out of their cash. As much as $55 million of his firm’s money is inaccessible. “Being tied up for even an hour is an eternity in these markets. It’s now been more than a week,” said Koutoulas, who is also a securities lawyer.

The New York Times
For decades, commodities and futures trading firms have been largely policed by the exchanges where they trade, setting up potential conflicts of interest. These profit-making exchanges, like the CME Group, oversee the very futures firms they rely on for business, a self-regulatory system unlike that overseeing the Wall Street banks, which contend with armies of federal regulators.

Futures Magazine
James L. Koutoulas, CEO of Typhon Capital Management, is upset at the handling of the MF Global bankruptcy and wants to give a voice to the thousands of customers who don’t have a seat at the table. Koutoulas, who is also an attorney, is informally representing approximately 200 clients and brokers affected by the bankruptcy on a pro-bono basis in conjunction with the Northwestern Law Investor Protection Clinic.

Crain’s Chicago Business
Mr. Koutoulas is also rounding up support from other former MF Global customers for an effort to win representation in MF Global’s bankruptcy proceedings. “It’s the clients’ money,” Mr. Koutoulas said in an interview Monday. “No one is protecting the client.”

The New York Times
Mr. Koutoulas, the commodities trading adviser from Chicago, flew to New York early this week to file an emergency motion in federal court asking that all accounts be unfrozen and immediately transferred in full to other clearinghouses.

The New York Times
With MF Global filing for bankruptcy on Monday, investors pummeled many financial stocks, fearful that problems were lurking on the books of other Wall Street firms. It was a crisis of confidence, not unlike in 2008 when the markets punished stocks on mere speculation of trouble.