12 gestores de los principales hedge funds o "Fondos de Inversión Libre" londinenses se presentaron a las oficinas del Daily Telegraph para hacer una defensa pública de su labor. Han permanecido en silencio frente al chaparrón de acusaciones lanzadas contra ellos por una ciudadanía furiosa en busca de culpables capitalistas, pero han reaccionado.
Los 12 líderes del sector han declarado que no son responsables de la crisis, que hay algunas "manzanas podridas" entre los hedge funds pero ninguno está siendo rescatado, la mayoría son vehículos de creación de riqueza necesarios para la recuperación, y varios de ellos ya advirtieron el peligro que acechaba a los bancos. Los gestores han recordado que su industria da trabajo a decenas de miles de personas en la City, y que si el Gobierno decide regular excesivamente su gestión (como una parte de la opinión pública está pidiendo) se desplazarán a Suiza. Espero que cumplan la amenaza.
Se teme que uno de los resultados de la cumbre del G-20 sea la hiper-regulación de estos fondos de inversión. Copio algunos fragmentos del artículo pero vale la pena leer enteras las opiniones de los gestores.
In a rare show of unity, 12 of London's most powerful hedge fund managers (listed right) have decided it is time to fight back. Last Monday afternoon the group that collectively manages some $30bn came to the offices of The Sunday Telegraph determined to be heard.
The managers insisted that they did not cause the financial turmoil nor do they pose a danger going forward. Instead, they claimed, they saw the dangers that the regulators, central bankers and ratings agencies all missed and yet they were ignored. They said hedge funds are crucial for the smooth running of the markets and to the recovery. But they also issued a warning: if the authorities push them too far with onerous regulations or taxation, then they are prepared to leave London. (...)
Crispin Odey, the colourful industry veteran, spoke for the group. "With any crisis, the Government and politicians always steal the narrative and their version becomes accepted," he said. "We need to grab the narrative, or at least share in it. I'm happy to fight for this."
He gave warning that there was far more at stake than the future of hedge funds. "The real question that Western capitalism faces is, what kind of world do we want to live in?" he said. "Do we want free markets and free capital, or not? Do we want the Government to choose and decide everything for us or not?" (...)
The hedge funds warned that they do not have to put up with onerous changes and restrictions. "We don't have to be in London. The Swiss are trying very hard to tempt us all over – and we might well go," said Mr Odey.públicamente que sus fondos no son responsables de la crisis, que algunos ya lo advirtieron y reflejaron
