Hedge funds increased bullish bets on gold to their highest level in four months last week, as geopolitical and policy uncertainty continued to drive investor demand for hard assets, according to data analysis by Bloomberg news.

Elliott Management’s proposed acquisition of Venezuela-owned US refinery Citgo has been thrown into uncertainty following President Donald Trump’s removal of Nicolás Maduro, raising fresh political and regulatory risks for the hedge fund’s $8bn investment, according to a report by the Financial Times.

Distressed-debt specialists Oaktree Capital Management and Anchorage Capital have acquired positions in First Brands Group’s debtor-in-possession financing as the auto parts supplier races to secure additional liquidity, according to a report by Bloomberg.

Frontier markets are emerging as a key opportunity for investors in 2026, according to a report by Bloomberg citing Jens Nystedt, Chief Investment Officer, Long-only funds at hedge fund Kirkoswald Asset Management.

Hong Kong-based hedge fund Gen2 Partners Ltd has filed a claim seeking over $137m in damages from Samsung Securities Co, Samsung Hedge Asset Management Co, and Samsung Securities (Asia) Ltd, according to a report by Bloomberg.

Elliott Investment Management has increased its stake in Toyota Industries Corp to 6.7% from 5%, intensifying its campaign for a higher valuation in the Japanese manufacturer’s proposed privatisation, according to a report by Bloomberg.

Millennium Management is establishing a standalone credit trading business, separating it from its broader fixed income division, in a move reflecting continued evolution at the $83.4bn multi-strategy hedge fund, according to a report by Bloomberg.

Bridgewater Associates, the world’s largest hedge fund firm, said it remains positive on Chinese equities in 2026 after a strong rally in local markets helped its onshore hedge fund deliver its best performance in at least five years, according to a report by Bloomberg.