Funds
Emerging Markets hedge funds posted strong gains in March, leading industry-wide gains as equity and commodity markets reversed early quarter declines to conclude the first quarter, according to data released today by HFR.
The HFRI Emerging Markets Index advanced +6.9 per cent for the month, offsetting steep losses from January and bringing YTD performance to +0.8 per cent. March represents the strongest month of performance for Emerging Markets (EM) since the Index gained +9.6 per cent in May 2009. Hedge funds posted strong gains across Equity, Event Driven and Relative Value strategies, with the HFRI Fund Weighted Composite Index® advancing
Blackstone Alternative Investment Advisors (BAIA), an affiliate of Blackstone’s hedge fund solutions business, will be closing the Blackstone Alternative Multi-Manager Fund (BXMMX), the smaller of its two mutual fund products.
Blackstone launched BXMMX in August of 2013 as a dedicated vehicle for Fidelity Investments. As of 31 March, 2016, the AUM of BXMMX was USD631 million. Blackstone will liquidate the fund on or before 31 May, 2016.
BXMMX sought capital appreciation through a diversified global set of exposures, traded by alternative asset managers, which demonstrated relatively low beta to traditional markets and produced attractive risk-adjusted performance. BXMMX is operated as
Nomura Research Institute (NRI) has launched the second phase of its Proof-of-Concept (PoC) to examine the applicability of blockchain technology for securities markets. This project will be done in collaboration with Asia’s leading exchange group, Japan Exchange Group. (JPX).
Through this partnership, NRI and JPX will assess the usability as well as the challenges of blockchain technology when applied to securities markets. Along with JPX, the PoC will be supported by Nomura Securities, SBI Securities, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group and others, to ensure the study is explored from various perspectives. The PoC will mainly examine business scenarios and validation items,
Calamos Investments has added to its liquid alternatives offering with the launch of the Calamos Phineus Long/Short Fund, a global long/short mutual fund.
The fund's launch follows the September 2015 acquisition of San Francisco-based Phineus Partners by Calamos Investments. Michael Grant, Senior Vice President and Senior Co-Portfolio Manager, launched Phineus' Long/Short hedge fund in 2002 and will manage this new mutual fund with the same investment approach. Because the approach and GIPS-compliant investment history of Phineus Partners' long/short hedge fund is consistent with the transparency and liquidity requirements of a '40 Act fund, the new mutual fund will retain the
Prestige Fund Management and Affiliated companies (Prestige), a specialist direct lending investment management group has recently celebrated the seventh birthday of its “Alternative Finance Fund” by passing USD500 million/GBP350 million in assets under management.
Group assets raised since 2008 now stand at approximately USD1.1 billion/GBP780 million. Prestige, focuses on commercial loans for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the UK, launched its loan strategy in 2008 and now has over 60 employees and retained consultants globally. Specialist financing areas of focus include asset, project and invoice finance related opportunities.
The milestone comes for Prestige as pension funds and other
RueOne Investments has launched the first marketplace providing accredited and institutional investors direct access to a curated selection of alternative assets that are sourced, structured, and managed by industry leading asset managers.
The recently passed Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act has enabled RueOne to offer a unique and innovative solution for investors and asset managers alike. For the first time, investors will have the ability to take advantage of deal flow, structuring expertise, due diligence capability, and ongoing oversight of professional asset managers while still having the flexibility to evaluate and invest in individual deals.
“We’re excited to bring
Against a choppy market backdrop which saw the MSCI World index close down 0.2 per cent for the first quarter of 2016, the HFRX Global Hedge Fund index remains negative for the year, although it was up 1.2 per cent for March.
Anthony Lawler (pictured), portfolio manager at GAM says: “The volatility year-to-date has proved challenging for active managers who were generally hurt in January and February before recovering with some gains in March. Many had trimmed exposures in January and early February before the rebound and were unable to benefit in size from the subsequent rally. This type of
The Hedge Fund Association (HFA), a leading global non-profit trade and nonpartisan lobbying organisation, is marking 20 years in operation in 2016 with a series of structural changes offering valuable independence and benefits to members.
Created in 1996 to elevate participation in the global hedge fund community, HFA's structure transitioned during 2015 from an external management company based in Florida to the current New York office and staff supported by outsourced services and a volunteer leadership team. HFA has closed the Florida office, launched a newly enhanced website at HedgeFundAssoc.org, strengthened the leadership team, and organised a growing line-up of
361 Capital, aninvestment firm specialising in liquid alternative mutual funds, has launched the 361 Domestic Long/Short Equity Fund.
The Fund, which is sub-advised by Los Angeles-based Analytic Investors, uses the same innovative strategy as the firm’s high-performing 361 Global Long/Short Equity Fund, but with a focus on domestic investments. Using a research-based low volatility approach, the new Fund seeks to achieve long-term capital appreciation by participating in rising markets and preserving capital during downturns.
“Given continued uncertainty in the market, advisors are increasingly looking for strategies that can strengthen more traditional 60/40 portfolios,” says Cliff Stanton, 361 Capital’s Chief Investment
Ultimus Fund Solutions is to provide fund administration services to Miles Capital liquid alternatives mutual fund, the Miles Capital Alternative Advantage Fund.
Based in Des Moines, Iowa, as an independent asset management firm managing nearly USD4.5 billion in traditional and nontraditional assets for clients, Miles selected the Unified Series Trust (UST) as its platform to gain operational efficiencies and expand its alternative investment solutions beyond its existing SMA business. Miles is the latest alternatives manager to select the Ultimus team for administration, fund accounting, transfer agency, compliance and distribution services through its turnkey multi-series trust structures, solidifying Ultimus as a
