Jim Simons: from academia to managing the world’s largest hedge fund

Its Medallion Fund–which uses computers and trading algorithms to invest in world markets–returned more than 50 percent in the first three quarters of 2007. It had about $6 billion in assets as of July 1. Simons registered that performance as subprime and related markets were collapsing, sending two mortgage-related hedge funds run by Bear Stearns Cos. into bankruptcy. The turmoil pummeled the Goldman Sachs Global Alpha Fund, a rival to Renaissance’s funds, which fell more than 25 percent during the same time. Morgan Stanley’s computer jockeys lost $390 million in a single day in early August.

From Bloomberg’s profile of Jim Simons and his hedge fund management company, Renaissance Technologies

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