Apjit Walia, a tech veteran with over 20 years' experience researching technology companies as a sell-side analyst, and running portfolios at some of the largest global macro hedge funds, is launching DVN Capital, a global macro and technology hedge fund.

Activist investor Carl Icahn is preparing to launch a proxy fight at Illumina, seeking three board seats, prompted by the biotech company's $8 billion acquisition of cancer screening start-up Grail, which Icahn says is now costing the company $800 million per year, according to reports.

According to a new study from fintech Exabel, over half (53%) of portfolio managers and investment analysts who focus on fundamental investing say an overload of alternative data and the difficulty in prioritising it, is the biggest challenge to extracting benefits from its use.

RBC BlueBay Asset Management has appointed Ian Clarke as Senior ESG Analyst, as the firm continues to incorporate environmental, social and governance considerations across its BlueBay fixed income investment platform.

Parameta Solutions, a provider of OTC indicative and trade data, and Numerix, an OTC analytics and derivatives pricing company, have formed a new partnership to develop automated, independent, fair valuations of OTC derivatives to market participants.

Stax LLC, a global strategy consulting firm specialising in commercial due diligence, value creation, and exit planning for private equity firms, PE-backed companies, hedge funds, and investment banks, has opened a new office in London, which will serve as the base for the firm's European operations.

Hedge funds are set to profit from the rout in bank stocks triggered by the sudden demise of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank thanks to bearish positions against the banking sector, according to a report by Reuters.

London-based hedge fund firm Marshall Wace has appointed Amit Rajpal as managing partner and portfolio manager. In his new role, Rajpal will report directly to Paul Marshal, co-founder of the firm, which began operations in 1997 managing $50 million and now manages around $64 billion.

Rodrigo Ostik has become the latest bank trader to join BlueCrest, with the London head of sterling rates and inflation trading at Japanese bank Mizuho joining the firm as a portfolio manager based in London, according to a report by eFinancial Careers.

Hedge fund Luxor Capital has made a last-ditch attempt to prevent the merger of auctioneer Ritchie Bros (RBA) with rival IAA Inc, by urging shareholders to oppose the proposed deal ahead of today's special meeting of RBA shareholders.