by Calculated Risk on 6/13/2007 11:33:00 PM

From the WSJ: Bear's Fund Is Facing Mortgage Losses

A hedge fund managed by Bear Stearns Cos. is scrambling to sell large amounts of mortgage securities, a setback for a Wall Street firm known for its savvy debt-market trading.

The fund makes bets on bonds backed by mortgages, many of which are subprime, meaning they go to especially risky borrowers.

Faced with losses on its investments, the fund, called High-Grade Structured Credit Strategies Enhanced Leverage Fund, together with a sister fund, is trying to sell about $4 billion in mortgage-backed bonds to raise cash, according to people close to the fund and traders who have been solicited to buy the bonds.

It appears the fund is selling it's best assets first:

Bids for the sale of bonds are due at 10 a.m. EDT today -- shortly after Bear announces its results.

... On the list were roughly 150 of the funds' most easily traded, investment-grade bonds, which are backed by subprime mortgages. The estimated value of the bonds ranges from $1 million to nearly $110 million apiece.