Sebastian Werner examines aggregate short sales and convertible bond arbitrage, which is a typical hedge fund strategy that involves a significant short position in the underlying stock of a long convertible bond position for hedging purposes. He provides insightful and new observations of the significant difference in the trading pattern, information content and resulting impact on stock returns of arbitrage- versus valuation-based short selling activities.

A one-of-a-kind book that shows you how to cash in on the latestinvesting trend--short selling "The Art of Short Selling is the best description of this difficulttechnique."--John Train, Train, Thomas, Smith Investment Counsel,and author of The New Money Masters "Kathryn Staley has done a masterful job explaining the highlyspecialized art of short selling. Her approach to telling the truestories of famous investment 'scams' will keep the readerspellbound, while teaching the investor many cruciallessons."--David W. Tice, Portfolio Manager, Prudent BearFund "Selling short is still a misunderstood discipline, but even themost raging bull needs to know this valuable technique to masterthe ever-changing markets."--Jim Rogers, author, InvestmentBiker On the investment playing field, there is perhaps no game moreexciting than short selling. With the right moves, it can yieldhigh returns; one misstep, however, can have disastrousconsequences. Despite the risk, a growing number of players areanteing up, sparked in part by success stories such as that ofGeorge Soros and the billions he netted by short selling theBritish pound. In The Art of Short Selling, Kathryn Staley, anexpert in the field, examines the essentials of this importantinvestment vehicle, providing a comprehensive game plan with whichyou can effectively play--and win--the short selling game. Whether used as a means of hedging bets, decreasing the volatilityof total returns, or improving returns, short selling must behandled with care--and with the right know-how. As Staley pointsout, "Short selling is not for the faint of heart. If a stock movesagainst the position holder, the effect on a portfolio and networth can be devastating. Investors need to understand the impacton their accounts as well as the consequences of getting bought inbefore they indulge in short selling." The Art of Short Sellingguides you--clearly and concisely--through the ins and outs of thishigh-risk, high-stakes game. The first--and most important--move in selling short is to identifyflaws in a business before its share prices drop. To help youtackle this key step, Staley shows you how to evaluate companyfinancial statements and balance sheets, make sense of returnratios, detect inconsistencies in inventory, and analyze thestatement of cash flows. Through real-world examples thatillustrate the shorting of bubble, high multiple growth, and themestocks, you'll proceed step by step through the complete processand learn to carry out all the essentials for a successful shortsell, including quantifying the risk factor and orchestratingcorrect timing, as well as implementing advanced valuationtechniques to execute the sell/buy. Packed with landmark, cutting-edge examples, up-to-the-minuteguidelines, and pertinent regulations, The Art of Short Selling isa timely and comprehensive reference that arms you with thenecessary tools to make a prepared and confident entrance onto theshort selling playing field.

October 28, 1997. The Dow drops 500 points. Investors the world over receive a startling reminder that "what goes up, must come down." It is a profoundly unsettling experience for those of us who have either forgotten or have never known the experience of a bear market. Half of the money invested in U.S. stocks in this century entered the market from 1991-1996, making the dark days of October memorable for their bloodletting. Overall, this was just a scratch, and despite the optimism of so many investors, history has shown that the bear attacks time and time again. John Rothchild, critically acclaimed author of the bestselling A Fool and His Money, isn't even afraid to face a full-fledged bear market. In his topical and timely new book, Rothchild reveals how to prepare psychologically and tactically for the looming debacle. Breaking from the pack of investment books which tacitly assume a bull market, The Bear Book focuses on protecting assets and minimizing losses during a bear market and on taking advantage of unique opportunities for profit. With customary flair and style, Rothchild chronicles the long history of bear markets, exploring in detail exactly what constitutes a bear market and how it affects us. Along with his own expertise, the author draws on respected and knowledgeable names such as Jim Rogers, Jim Grant, and Martin Zweig, among a host of prominent investment advisors, strategists, and fund managers. The result is a comprehensive chronicle that deftly and definitively fills the "bearish information gap." John Rothchild's masterful penchant for blending wit, good storytelling, and sound investment analysis makes The Bear Book both informative and vastly entertaining. He distinguishes the characteristics of past bear markets, examining what triggered them, how long they lasted-and why. He probes the unique psychology of bearish investing, concentrating on which types of investments generally do well during a downturn in the market. His often surprising answers to some straightforward, no-nonsense questions clarify, among other key issues, what can happen to mutual funds in a bear market, and exactly what the dangers are of selling short. Of critical importance is Rothchild's overview of the alternatives to stocks, including gold, bonds, and money market funds, as well as tips on what stocks to buy when the market starts to turn bullish again. For historical perspective, The Bear Book also includes a unique and eye-opening account of the Crash of '29 and its survivors. Profiles of prominent bearish investors-Roy Neuberger and Philip Carret, among them-contain illuminating long-term perspectives on the ups and downs of the stock market over the past fifty to seventy-five years. A bracing tonic for investors at all levels of experience, The Bear Book offers a veritable blueprint of the various stages of a typical bear market. It will prove invaluable to those of us who wish to protect our savings -and peace of mind -whenever the market drops.

The latest theoretical and empirical evidence on short selling in the United States and throughout the world To get the most success out of what the finance community regards as a risky business, short sellers need high-level information. The Theory and Practice of Short Selling offers managers and investors the information they need to maximize and enhance their short selling capabilities for bigger profits. Frank Fabozzi collects a group of market experts who share their knowledge on everything from the basics to the complex in the world of short sales, including mechanics of short selling, the empirical evidence on short-selling, the implications or restrictions on short selling for investment strategies, short-selling strategies pursued by institutional investors, and identifying short-selling candidates. Frank J. Fabozzi, PhD, CFA (New Hope, PA), is the Frederick Frank Adjunct Professor of Finance at Yale University's School of Management and Editor of the Journal of Portfolio Management. He is the author or editor of over 100 books on finance and investing.

A revealing expose by one of today's most successful andcontroversial speculators Short-selling, or betting on a drop in the price of a stock, hasbeen described by its many opponents as everything from shady todownright evil. And no one today personifies the practice betterthan short-seller extraordinaire Manuel Asensio. Though he has beenbranded in the press as a market saboteur, Asensio staunchlydefends his practices, claiming that, above all, he is out toexpose rampant fraud being perpetrated by unscrupulous stockpromoters. Is Asensio a "Minion of Satan" as they say in the onlinechat rooms, or is he really a misunderstood guardian angel of freemarket capitalism? In this tell-all account, Asensio offers readersa lively narrative, peppered with unforgettable anecdotes such asthe story of why he shorted Diana, General Nutrition, Solv-Ex,Turbodyne, and many other high-profile stocks. And he armsinvestors with proven techniques for reducing the inherent risks ofshort-selling while maximizing returns. Clearly, Asensio invitesboth praise and criticism, but his methodology works, and SoldShort is a compelling and fascinating read about this oftenmysterious side of the market--and one of the most controversialindividuals behind it. Manuel Asensio (New York, NY) is founder and Chairman of Asensio& Co., Inc. He has over twenty years of corporate finance andresearch experience. He has been featured in Business Week, theWall Street Journal, Barron's, Fortune, Forbes, Worth, the New YorkTimes, New York magazine, and the New Republic, among other leadingnational and international publications.

Why Main Street blames financial speculation for economic crashes Disdain for short selling is as American as apple pie, dating back to our nation’s founding. But as Bob Sloan argues in Don’t Blame the Shorts, short selling lies at the heart of every Wall Street transaction and fuels the financial system. Sloan explains that without shorting, credit in high-yield, distressed, convertible bonds and equities vanishes, thus choking economic activity. This eye-opening look at short selling in America provides new insight into our hostile relationship with shorting—a relationship that turns out to be unhealthy and counterproductive.