Funds
Alternative assets fund managers hold a record USD7.4 trillion in combined assets under management (AUM) in 2015, up from USD6.9 trillion a year before, according to Preqin’s 2016 Global Alternatives Reports.
The private capital industry in particular has grown over the past year, as almost every constituent asset class saw its AUM increase. The industry as a whole added USD193 billion in AUM through H1 2015, more than the USD149 billion growth seen in the whole of 2014. The aggregate value of the portfolios of assets held by private capital fund managers is continuing to rise as GPs put more
Euronext is to launch a new Sugar commodities futures contract in the autumn of 2016 allowing the industry to hedge its positions against price fluctuations and anticipate future price movements, just as the Sugar quotas expire in the European market.
The European Union is the third largest sugar producer and the second largest consumer in the world. Following a profound modification in its common organisation of the markets in agricultural products, the EU will abolish sugar production quotas on 30 September 2017. This major reform follows those covering the oilseeds, grains and dairy sectors in the EU over the last
Susan Lock (pictured) is a partner in the investment funds team at Campbells, a leading Cayman Islands law firm which has been established for over 45 years, advising on both Cayman Islands and British Virgin Islands law.
She observes that the launch environment for new funds and emerging managers has become "manifestly harder, more competitive, costly and more time consuming". Fund launch costs are rising, primarily because of the increased need to meet regulatory and compliance reporting and investor scrutiny.
"Investment managers now have to not only show a compelling investment strategy and a proven track record but they also
GLAS, an independent provider of finance administration services, has launched in the US, with Daniel R Fisher appointed to the helm of its New York-based office.
The move is designed to capitalise on the new opportunities arising in the US and reflects demand for efficient, cost-effective services as traditional providers withdraw from the market. Across the Atlantic, GLAS’ organic growth continues with three new hires in London.
GLAS was established in 2011. It offers a wide range of administration services to lenders, borrowers, issuers and advisers across the loan and debt markets, specialising in complex deals including loan and
Managed futures traders lost 1.19 per cent in December according to the Barclay CTA Index compiled by BarclayHedge. The Index was down 1.43 per cent in 2015.
“European Central Bank easing in December fell short of investor expectations, and markets promptly registered disappointment with sharp trend reversals in European equities, interest rates, and the Euro,” says Sol Waksman, founder and president of BarclayHedge.
Five of Barclay’s eight CTA indices lost ground in December. The Financial/Metals Traders Index was down 1.68 per cent, Diversified Traders lost 1.52 per cent, and Systematic Traders were down 1.47 per cent.
“CTAs lost
The SS&C GlobeOp Forward Redemption Indicator for January 2016 measured 2.31 per cent, down from 4.98 per cent in December.
"SS&C GlobeOp's Forward Redemption Indicator came in at 2.31 per cent for January 2016, down from 4.98 per cent for December 2015 and also down year-over-year compared to 2.49 per cent for January 2015," says Bill Stone, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, SS&C Technologies. "It's noteworthy that on a year-over-year basis, the Forward Redemption Indicator has fallen seven of the past eight months, including the most recent four months consecutively. This continuing pattern is consistent with other data we track, indicating
The LoCorr Market Trend Fund has passed the USD1 billion mark in net assets this month, just 18 months after its launch on 1 July, 2014.
Based on total returns, the LoCorr Market Trend Fund Class I, ranked in the 6th percentile of 165 funds since its inception; and ranked in the 11th percentile of 179 funds during 2015 in Morningstar’s Managed Futures Category as of 31 December, 2015. Furthermore, the Fund outperformed the universe of the managed futures category since its inception, with the Class I shares returning 16.63 per cent on an annual basis over the approximate 18-month
JC Flowers & Co is to acquire Chi-X Australia, Chi-X Japan and Chi-Tech Hong Kong. Financial terms of the transaction, which is expected t close in Q1 2016, have not been disclosed.
Tal Cohen (pictured), CEO of Chi-X Global, says: “We are pleased to announce that JC Flowers & Co has agreed to acquire Chi-X Australia, Chi-X Japan and Chi-Tech. Over the past five years, Chi-X has established itself as an integral part of the financial markets in Asia Pacific through our commitment to competition and innovation.” 

“JC Flowers & Co has a deep appreciation for these markets and shares
Intercontinental Exchange’s (ICE) ICE Futures US achieved daily volume records in cocoa futures and cocoa options with 87,195 contracts and 29,211 contracts traded respectively on 20 January, 2016.
The previous record for cocoa futures was set on 6 June, 2013 with 82,659 contracts traded; and the previous record for cocoa options was set on 15 October, 2015 with 23,242 contracts traded.
The ICE Futures US soft commodity offering provides market participants in the agriculture industry with tools to manage the price risk associated with crop production, weather patterns and changes in supply and demand. As well as offering cocoa,
The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has launched the CFTC Whistleblower Program’s new website, www.whistleblower.gov, which is designed to educate the public about the program and allow users to submit tips about potential violations of the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA) and apply for monetary awards.
The new website outlines whistleblower rights and protections and guides users through the process of filing a whistleblower tip and applying for an award. The website also provides users with easy access to the rules and regulations governing the CFTC’s Whistleblower Program, final award determinations, notices of covered actions, and press releases, while encouraging
