In todays news there are some interesting articles globaly; Elliott Associates, a New York hedge fund firm, has bought a 9.9% stake in Epicor Software Corp. and is inquiring about possible strategic alternatives for the company.

Breeden Capital Management, another hedge fund firm, also disclosed a 5.25% stake in medical equipment maker Hill-Rom.

'The Path of Securities Lending - Will It Ever Change?' and 'Investment Outsourcing for the Hedge Fund World' are two articles by colleague Seth Berlin that address common questions in this volatile arena.

And finally, ; "Vulture funds are finally saying debt from Spanish retailer Cortefiel is now cheap enough to buy, after waiting for months to see prices of the struggling company's debt fall further."

The funds, which have raised billions of dollars to invest on the hopes that a worsening global economy will depress debt prices, are closely monitoring the Spanish group whose debt trades at about 42 percent of its face value.

"At these levels, you have to start thinking," said a hedge fund manager, under the condition of anonymity.