[wildjim]

I have regularly wondered how all these Hedge Funds (let alone the Banks) are doing so well without some kind-of inside information and/or some means to "generate interest or concerns" in the direction they would find the most beneficial.

[veyron]

The banks and large hedge funds manage so much money that their opinions and positions actually impact the market prices.

For example, akin to the "Colbert Bump", there is a "Buffett Bump" where position prices rise as Buffett releases his positions. Over the past few weeks a bunch of firms were required to disclose some positions as part of a 13F filing.

But it's not all puffery. Check out the story of David Einhorn and Green Mountain Coffee (GMCR).