Wall Street Roundup: Hedge funds and lending. Hedge funds and Africa.

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Gold: Trading now at $1,539 per ounce, up 0.1% from Wednesday. Dow Jones industrial average: Trading now at 12138.81, up 0.7% from Wednesday.

A good morning. After six rough days, the clouds seem to have broken on the markets after some promising trade data was released.

Hedge funds and lending. With banks guarding their loan portfolio’s carefully, hedge funds are increasingly serving as business lenders.

Hedge funds and Africa. A progressive California think tank has released a report accusing hedge funds of displacing local farmers in Africa with their land speculation.

Goldman’s Libya problem. The Securities and Exchange Commission is looking at Goldman’s dealings with Libya’s sovereign wealth fund.

-- Nathaniel Popper