VENTURE CAPITAL POST

The Inova Health System is now investing and focusing on "personalized" medicine innovation.

The landscape for the investment industry remains uncertain as the financial advisors and broker-dealers are yet to know the intention of the incoming administration regarding the fiduciary rule. The rule was passed earlier this year and is scheduled to take effect on April 10, 2017.

New York-based hedge fund Visium Asset Management is facing probe by the US Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) and Justice Department over its trading and valuation issues. Visium's exposure to healthcare sector is under scanner.

Indian businessman Ajay Piramal has entered into venture capital (VC) space by establishing a new VC funding entity 'Montane Ventures.' The new VC fund focuses on early-stage funding requirements. Piramal has infused $50 million into Montane Ventures will mobiles $150 million additionally from external resources.

Silicon Valley-based private co-investment platform F50 has the launched beta version of co-investment Syndication Platform. F50 facilitates both the online and offline transactions for investors and startups. It doesn't charge a transaction fee to founders.

The recent market crash in Indian stock markets is driving funds from equities to mutual funds (MFs). As a result, fixed income mutual funds are witnessing increased inflows of funds amid ongoing bear market.

Reeling under pressure, the hedge fund segment is facing talent crunch to render its services more qualitatively. Considering the need of the hour, billionaire Steve Cohen-owned hedge fund Point72 Asset Management is investing in grooming the talent pool. It's offering two programs to train young graduates.

The bonds are gaining momentum amid sluggish financial markets and uncertainty about the global economy. Majority of hedge funds are betting on the $4.5 trillion market as the safest for US corporate debt. Some hedge funds forecast the concerns may go beyond energy and junk bonds.

Gold soared to three-month high early this week as investors switched over to safe have following the concerns about the global economy. The US Federal Reserve indicated a challenging global economy and this may not prevent it from raising interest rate. Gold price reached to $1,127.80 on 27 January and this propelled investors to book profits.

Economists express concerns over the repetition of property bubble in the US market as it's overvalued. Analysts estimate that the real estate is overvalued in the range of 25 percent to 60 percent considering the average price and average income in a particular area. However, the US property market is attracting more foreign investment and it's forecast to be higher than in 2015.

US Treasuries dropped for the first time in seven days as China concerns eased. The unexpected depreciation of Yuan by China's central bank sent shock waves across the global markets. This triggered selloff in equities and forced investors towards safe havens such as treasuries and gold.

Seattle-based Juno Therapeutics announced it has closed Series B round of funding with $134 million. The new funding came from previous investors including ARCH Venture Partners, Alaska Permanent Fund, Bezos Expedition, the personal investment company of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, and Venrock. Also participating in Series B are 10 other mutual funds and healthcare-related funds that wish to remain anonymous.

TIAA-CREF has agreed to acquire Nuveen Investments in a deal valued USD6.25 billion, reported Bloomberg.

Palo Alto, US-based late-stage investment firm Technology Crossover Ventures (TCV) raised $2.23 billion for its eighth growth equity fund from European and Asian private and public pension funds, financial institutions and other investors.

A Wilshire Associates Inc report showed that public pensions in the US had median gains of 16.1% last year, with smaller public pensions outperforming the "mega" plans, Bloomberg reported.