There's a lot of negativity out there on private equity in general--the Blackstone Group in particular. Its aftermarket performance has been disappointing to be sure. But lost in all the uncertainty about the future of private equity are some positives that this Blackstone bull is happy to point out. Apart from the fact that its last earnings report was stellar, there are other signs of strength, notably its hedge fund and real estate business. Blackstone apparently wants to open seven hedge funds over the next 15 months or so. That will likely boost fee revenue. Chinese deals also loom as potential winners. So at some point, a change in sentiment might take place and the worry over taxes and the debt markets will seem less dire.  

For more:
- here's the Seeking Alpha article

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