With all the changes that are taking place in derivatives trading and processing, the easiest way for firms to streamline their clearing operations is to think twice about the products they’re trading, says James Koutoulas, CEO of Typhon Capital Management.
Blog
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Oil Climbs on Canadian Fires
The Wall Street Journal
While stockpiles and production may still be relatively high, those factors can take a backseat when investors herd into the same space, which they have been doing lately in commodities, said James Koutoulas, chief executive at Typhon Capital Management, a commodity trader in Chicago with about $100 million in assets. Many are simply buying back into oil, helping to keep the rally going even in the face of oversupply.“With momentum trades, they can last a long time,” Mr. Koutoulas said.
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Commodity Hedge Funds Are Hot Again
The Wall Street Journal
Inflows started again by late 2014 and the firm is now back nearly to its peak after adding $10 million in new investor money in the first quarter of this year, Mr. Koutoulas said. His team has been flying from its Chicago headquarters to Japan, Hong Kong, Switzerland, the U.K. and elsewhere around Asia and Europe to meet potential new clients, many of whom are fearful the long rally in equities is over. “The inquiry level is just massive,” Mr. Koutoulas said. -
Oil Prices Rise as panic Eases
The Wall Street Journal
“This is not a place where you want to take a directional oil bet,” said James Koutoulas, chief executive at the futures-trading firm Typhon Capital Management, which manages about $100 million in assets. “You want to [bet on] volatility.” -
How to reform the NFA’s corporate governance
CTA Intelligence
Outgoing board members James Koutoulas and John Roe offer some recommendations
The National Futures Association (NFA) has a large board, even though it was reduced to 29 members with this year’s election. It will now be com- posed of 19 directors affiliated with a member and 10 public directors not associated with a member. -
Oil Settles Below $28 a Barrel
The Wall Street Journal
Oil sold off dramatically all of Tuesday afternoon as warnings of oversupply and tumbling stock markets around the world highlight the worst-case possibilities for a struggling market.
“You’re seeing a lot of fear,” said James Koutoulas, chief executive at Typhon Capital Management, which manages about $100 million in assets. “Oil will end up going lower before a sustained recovery.” -
Typhon Capital Bets Big on Biofuels
The Wall Street Journal
Look for drivers – but not oil – to help steer a turnaround in commodities, according to Typhon Capital Management. The eight-year-old firm — famous for advocating for a group of clients hurt by MF Global Holdings Ltd — is making a big bet on biofuels, its leaders are telling investors at Context Summits, a conference in Miami. Governments around the world are pushing for cleaner energy, and that’s likely to lead to major recoveries for corn, sugar and grains as new laws mandate more biofuels to replace crude-based gasoline and diesel, said Cy Monley, portfolio manager. -
Typhon Capital’s CEO @jameskoutoulas talks to @UChicago students about trading, entrepreneurship, and fighting corruption at NFA
At Real World Perspectives, James Koutoulas gives University of Chicago Math Graduate Program his take on trading, Entrepreneurship and fighting corruption at the NFA.
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MF Global Advocate Koutoulas At Center of Controversy Again
ValueWalk
At the center of controversy’s spotlight is a familiar figure, James Koutoulas, an elected board member of the National Futures Association representing derivatives-based hedge funds known as CTA’s and CPO’s. Koutoulas was hailed in 2012 for his efforts on behalf of a portion of MF Global account holders who initially lost funds from their segregated accounts and was swept into office resulting from his popularity generated from the media spotlight. But now, four years and two elections later, a survey of National Association of Introducing Brokers board members shows Koutoulas having diminishing support among the group as he engages in what appears like a cat fight with some of the derivatives industry’s most storied names. -
Black Monday No Surprise, Says Analysts
Institutional Investor
James Koutoulas, CEO of Typhon Capital Management in Chicago, concurs that today’s sell-off was overdue. “China’s central bank has been exposed as desperate and impotent, and the Fed has precious few bullets left,” he says. Typhon Capital design and manages multi asset class volatility portfolios as both alternative allocations and overlay exposures. According to Koutoulas, who says that his firm has been in reduced risk mode across its commodities strategies for weeks and preparing for a pullback in equities in its overlay positioning, the worst may not yet be over.