Former Riot Blockchain CEO, John O’Rourke, may be included as part of a criminal investigation that has been launched by federal authorities in relation to “microcap fraud.” According to a CNBC article, the probe runs parallel with a civil case that the SEC brought against O’Rourke and others who were […]
The yield enhancement strategy (YES) is often pitched as a “safe” or “low-risk” option for investors who are interested in maintaining consistent returns. However, reality has recently shown that the investment products bought and sold under YES are extremely complex and risky. In recent months, many individual investors have come […]
Wall Street is notorious for saying one thing to investors and meaning something else. It’s called “doublespeak,” language that deliberately obscures, disguises or distorts the meaning of words. The term was coined after the great British writer George Orwell used the term “doublethink” to describe a reality that was completely […]
Yield enhancement strategies (YES) are high-risk investments that can result in substantial losses. They are also highly-complex; and, as a result, they are only suitable for the most-sophisticated of investors. If you have lost money in a YES investment, here are some of the key terms you need to know: […]
The “iron condor” is an extraordinarily complex investment product. A form of “yield enhancement strategy,” or “YES,” it involves making at least four separate options trades with the hope that none of the options will actually reach their strike price so that the investor can pocket a modest “option premium.” […]
Zamansky LLC is investigating an options-based investment strategy utilized by various brokerage firms — including Morgan Stanley and Merrill Lynch — sometimes referred to as the Collateral Yield Enhancement Strategy, or “CYES”. The CYES is a complicated and risky options strategy, managed by Harvest Volatility Management, LLC. The CYES utilizes […]
Similar to all other consumer industries, there are fads in the retail investment market. One recent fad promoted by big Wall Street banks like UBS and Credit Suisse is the “yield enhancement strategy,” also known by the acronym, “YES.” Despite its catchy name, and despite being pitched as a low-risk […]
There is no question that yield enhancement strategies (YES) present substantial risks for individual investors. There is also no question that most individual investors lack the in-depth knowledge of options, margin, puts, calls and other relevant investment concepts needed to make informed decisions about investing with yield enhancement strategies. But, […]
IBM employees appealed dismissal of claims that fiduciaries of IBM’s employee stock option plan violated their duty under ERISA to manage plan assets prudently because they knew, but did not disclose, that IBM’s microelectronics division was overvalued. District court found a prudent fiduciary could have concluded an earlier corrective disclosure would have […]
The participant-plaintiffs in a stock drop case have won a rare victory in federal court. The plaintiffs alleged that the IBM defendants (IBM itself, along with the Retirement Plans Committee of IBM; Richard Carroll, IBM’s Chief Accounting Officer; Martin Schroeter, IBM’s CFO; and Richard Weber, IBM’s general counsel) failed to […]