Assignment Six

1. A critic recently claimed that hedge funds cause market volatility to increase when they publicize (and document) that a public corporation exaggerated its earnings. The critic argued that hedge funds should not be allowed to make such public statements, and should not be allowed to take short positions that bet against the firm that is being criticized. Write a short essay that supports or refutes this opinion.

2. Should large securities firms be allowed to be independent and insulated from bank regulation, or should they be required to register as bank holding companies, and therefore be subject to bank regulations? Write a short essay that supports your opinion.