Managers
Elliptic has launched ‘The Bitcoin Big Bang’, an interactive visualisation that plots the emergence and interconnectivity of the key players in bitcoin since its genesis in 2009.
While the full transaction history of every bitcoin in existence (the blockchain) has always been a matter of public record, until now, the ownership of individual addresses has remained largely anonymous. This has allowed illicit marketplaces such as The Silk Road to proliferate and discouraged bitcoin’s mainstream adoption by the finance industry.
Elliptic CEO, Dr James Smith, says: “If digital currency is to take its legitimate place in the enterprise it inevitably
The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC) has issued its recommendations on global data harmonisation to the CPMI IOSCO Harmonisation working group, detailing a proposed path towards a global data harmonisation, with credit derivatives identified as the first step.
The approach involves harmonising approximately 30 data fields across global trade repository providers, essentially creating a global data dictionary; these fields are viewed as critical to financial stability and systemic risk analysis. This recommendation is in alignment with ISDA’s perspectives on data quality, and DTCC believes this approach provides a path forward to promote more active dialogue between CPMI IOSCO and
Hedge funds have continued their run of solid performance with a fifth straight positive month, returning 1.01 per cent in May, according to the latest figures released by Preqin.
This means hedge funds have now returned 5.44 per cent for 2015 YTD, compared to 4.60 per cent for the whole of 2014.
All leading single-manager hedge fund strategies made gains in May, with equity strategies generating the highest return of 1.28 per cent.
CTA funds have suffered a second consecutive negative month in May (-0.07%), however the strategy is still positive for the year (+2.68%).
Lumentus – a specialist in online reputation management – is on a mission to enlighten hedge fund managers about the importance of defending their digital brands and reputations.
"Hedge funds are now scrutinised more than ever, particularly in traditional and social media," says Christina Bertinelli, senior partner at Lumentus, which will be a participant at the the 2nd annual Global Fund Forum in Bermuda later this month. "The new reality means that managing the digital reputation and perception of a hedge fund is critical. After all, potential investors, management recruits, rivals and peers first seek to find out about a firm
Goldman Sachs veterans Rob Allard and Jonathan Egol are to launch Firebreak Capital (Firebreak) later this year, a dedicated private debt hedge fund focusing on the opportunities created by financial regulatory reform and bank capital requirements.
With the rapid evolution in financial services, Firebreak aims to be an alternative balance sheet in the illiquid lending and investment sector, leveraging the emerging disruptive trends in consumer and commercial direct lending, as well as providing private credit, asset-backed and structured finance solutions. Firebreak will prospectively add cutting-edge technology that delivers insight and an efficient approach to its private debt strategy.
The hedge fund industry produced an aggregate return of 0.35 per cent in May, lifting YTD returns to +3.36 per cent, compared to the S&P 500 which increased +1.29 per cent in May and is +3.24 per cent YTD, according to eVestment
Managed futures funds posted their second consecutive monthly loss in May, falling -0.23 per cent. The strategy’s two- month draw down comes after a five-month string of gains which saw the universe produce cumulative returns of nearly six percent. A strong USD and declining oil prices, the two major and dominant trends likely adding to prior gains, have
Aurum, a specialist investment manager focusing on hedge fund portfolios, has launched Project Regeneration, a unique scheme that will allow companies to build a meaningful environmental policy.
Developed in conjunction with the UK-based charity Synchronicity Earth to help Aurum meet its own environmental goals, the project addresses the environmental aspect – the ‘E’ – of the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) issues high on the agenda of many investors.
Kevin Gundle, chief executive officer at Aurum, says: "We take ESG seriously at Aurum, but we found that while the social and governance aspects of running an investment management business are
Nordea Asset Management has launched a high yielding renminbi-denominated Asian credit fund. Joining the multi-boutique Nordea 1 Sicav, the Renminbi High Yield Bond Fund is managed by Asian fixed income specialists Income Partners.
The new fund invests in USD-denominated Asian high yield bonds, with the USD exposure actively hedged into CNH, as well as CNH-denominated high yield bonds. The managers also seek to provide downside protection against market volatility.
Both the Asian USD high yield and offshore CNH-denominated bond markets have undergone strong expansion in recent years, while the onshore CNY-denominated bond market is set to continue opening up
The Credit Suisse Hedge Fund Index (the Broad Index) finished up 0.83 per cent for the month of May with eight of the 10 sub-strategies all finishing the month in positive territory.
Long/Short Equity led the way with a return of 2.15% for the month, followed by Equity Market Neutral (1.00%), Event Driven (0.85%), Global Macro (0.71%), Multi-Strategy (0.65%), Convertible Arbitrage (0.52%), Fixed Income Arbitrage (0.48%) and Emerging Markets (0.37%).
Managed Futures was the month’s biggest loser, down 0.84 per cent, while Dedicated Short Bias ended the month in negative territory too, with a return of -0.83 per cent.
Diamond Hill Capital Management, Inc has closed the Diamond Hill Long-Short Fund to most new investors effective 12 June, 2015. The Fund will remain open to additional investment from existing shareholders and certain other new accounts as described in the prospectus supplement dated 8 May, 2015.
At Diamond Hill, portfolio managers have the authority to close their strategies before they reach an asset size where they believe they can no longer add sufficient value over a passive alternative, protecting existing clients.
"Our primary focus is always on achieving value-added results for existing clients," says Chris Bingaman, Long-Short Fund portfolio
