Here's a BusinessWeek online article that discusses the lowering age/experience threshold for those looking to start up a hedge fund. Entitled, "Hedge Fund Toddlers", the piece points out that barriers to entry are low, but long-term success is far from certain.
S&P cut Nasdaq's credit rating to junk status citing debt burdens and its questionable strategy to buy a controlling interest in the London Stock Exchange. Financial Times reported that the exchange's counterparty credit & bank loan rating were lowered fromm BBB- (lowest investment grade rating) to BB+. The change will increase Nasdaq's borrowing costs should it wish to pursue aquisition targets. For an earlier look at the exchange consolidation trend that brought about Nasdaq's push for a stake in the LSE, please see "Exchange fever" .