Pimco’s ‘Fade’; Oakley’s Got Games; ‘Musco Match’

Anyone else take note of some particularly colorful words that turned up in a story about Pimco in the Dec. 15 issue of the Wall Street Journal? It quoted an unnamed senior executive at the bond house ordering traders to “fade the rally” during a brief stretch in October by dumping U.S. Treasurys to raise cash needed to cover outflows in the wake of Bill Gross’ departure. That was part of a deeper tale of how Pimco steered its way through a shaky first month of its new existence. The choice of words served as another reminder that life in a bond house isn’t for the fainthearted—a “fade” position, after all, is a Runyonesque financial concept that would ring familiar with someone who shoots craps against a wall in a basement … … Holiday consumption notes: Products from Foothill Ranch-based Oakley Inc. are included in gift packages for players in at least eight of the 39 games this college bowl season, according to the Sports Business Journal. The bowl committee for the national championship game declined to disclose its gift list … A couple of OC cosmetic brands—Newport Beach-based Urban Decay and Too Faced in Irvine—made the list of 20 “Buzziest Brands of 2014” in Women’s Wear Daily’s special issue for its Beauty Inc Awards … Holiday giving notes: The L.A. Opera is talking up the “Musco Match,” a promise by OCers Paul and Marybelle Musco to put up $500,000 to “match all new, increased and additional gifts through January 12.” That’s Paul’s birthday, by the way …Word around town says General William Lyon has committed $265,000 for the rehab on some fourplexes the OC Rescue Mission plans to buy in Tustin and fix up to provide housing for homeless vets … This issue of the Business Journal looks ahead as 2014 winds down, with previews for local industries (pages 5-18) that include call-outs for individuals and companies to watch next year, and more specific predictions by sector… Our reporters compiled an impressive record last year, considering the challenges of the crystal ball business—two predictions were right on the money, three were at least arguable, and there were three clear misses. Former staffer Kari Hamanaka—who recently joined Women’s Wear Daily, by the way—accounted for the most precise hit and one of the wider misses. Hamanaka was spot-on when she predicted the Orange County Visitors Association would make marketing pushes in the Middle East and Mexico while expanding its presence in China in 2014. She also said Galardi Group Inc. would achieve significant growth for its Wienerschnitzel chain and its relatively new Two Madres fast-casual concept. The company didn’t make any startling increases for either brand, and put an emphasis on a longer-term strategy of beefing up its marketing savvy, with J.R. Galardi, son of the late founder, John Galardi, leading an effort to connect with Millennials … Not everyone is ready to cover OC—consider The Hill, an inside-the-Beltway publication that tracks the U.S. Congress, including the House of Representatives, a body of politicians who will argue all day long when it comes to the geography of electoral districts. That didn’t help on a piece The Hill ran about the latest Christmas card from Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, who has a reputation for getting cheeky with her holiday greetings. This year’s “shows Sanchez and hubby Jack Einwechter striking a pose in Los Angeles’s Angel Stadium,” the D.C. publication reported.