By Duff McDonald 11/27/12 7:38pm

Up & Down the Street

Steven A. Cohen

The Practical Magic of Hedge Funder Steven A. Cohen

If you’re a fan of magic, one of the most enjoyable evenings available in New York City is a wonderful little show put on by one Steve Cohen out of a suite at the Waldorf Astoria several evenings a week. Mr. Cohen, known as “the millionaires’ magician,” thrills with sleight of hand and a witty banter that evokes the old-school parlor magicians of yore. But the highlight of his show is a segment in which he tells members of the audience things about themselves that he really shouldn’t know. Go see for yourself; it’s mind-boggling. Mr. Cohen has made quite a career out of his talent—he even had a special on the History Channel last week—but he may be in the wrong line of work.

See, there’s another man named Steve Cohen who has also made quite a career out of seemingly knowing things he shouldn’t know. Call him “the billionnaire magician.” Read More

By Patrick Clark 9/26/12 8:49am

Morning Read

Greece, Spain Come Apart Over Austerity Measures; “Libor Fixing Can Make You That Much Money”: Roundup

More than 50,000 Greeks marched on the nation’s parliament to protest austerity measures required by bailout agreements, according to Reuters: ”‘We can’t just sit by idly and do nothing while the troika and the government destroy our lives,’ said Dimitra Kontouli, a 49-year-old local government employee whose salary was cut to 1,100 euros a month from 1,600 euros previously.”

Spain is moving towards accepting European bailouts, even as protests in Madrid turned violent and politicians in the Catalonia region called for secession.

“It’s just amazing how Libor fixing can make you that much money or lose if opposite.” So said Tan Chi Min, a former Royal Bank of Scotland trader in a conversation with traders at other banks, in an affidavit reviewed by Bloomberg. “It’s a cartel now in London.” Tan is suing RBS in Singapore for wrongful dismissal after being fired for attempting to manipulate Libor. Read More

By Laura Kusisto 3/31/11 10:04pm

lease beat

Steven A. Cohen Close to Deal at 510 Madison

Billionaire Steven A. Cohen is poised to follow his recent legal reprieve with a huge lease at 510 Madison Avenue.

After months of speculation, his mercurial hedge fund, SAC Capital, is near a deal to take 66,000 square feet, or the second through fifth floors, multiple sources said. Rumors of the deal have been swirling for months, but a lawsuit Read More