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Technology is tearing down the walls to options strategies previously available only to the largest investors, and is helping more investors guard against market risk and take advantage of market opportunities.
That’s according to data released by the Options Clearing Corporation, which reveals that total US exchange-listed options volume topped 4.3 billion contracts in 2017, the third highest on record and up 4 per cent from 2016, according to
“Today’s renewed options market growth reflects a new generation of educated, client-focused financial advisors working with their clients to apply appropriate options strategies across portfolios,” says Eric Metz (pictured), CFA,
Saxo Bank, an online multi-asset trading and investment specialist, has appointed Damian Bunce (pictured), as Chief Client Officer (CCO), effective 19 February 2018. Bunce joins Saxo’s executive team and will report directly to Kim Fournais, CEO and Founder.
In his role, Bunce will assume overall responsibility for the origination, retention and growth of Saxo Bank’s direct and wholesale business and drive growth through its network of worldwide offices.
Bunce joins Saxo with over 25 years of experience in the financial services industry with particular expertise in electronic trading across asset classes gained through his work with a number of global banks in London, New York, Tokyo
The Lyxor Hedge Fund Index was up slightly (+0.3 per cent) in December, with four out of eight Lyxor indices recording positive results.
CTAs finished on strong gains due to high diversification within portfolios. Long allocations to energy, DM equities and their stance on USD (short JPY, long EM FX) provided them with tailwinds.
L/S Equity Neutral managers lagged due to sector rotation and their sensitivity to momentum stocks.
Long materials and energy positions boosted the L/S Equity Variable bias funds in December.
Merger Arbitrage outperformed their peers, fuelled by tightening of M&A deal spreads including Time
The gross return of the SS&C GlobeOp Hedge Fund Performance Index for December 2017 measured 0.84 per cent.
Hedge fund flows as measured by the SS&C GlobeOp Capital Movement Index declined 1.35 per cent in January.
“SS&C GlobeOp’s Capital Movement Index for January 2018 showed net flows of -1.35 per cent, which should be viewed as a very strong result considering January typically produces significant net outflows for hedge funds,” says Bill Stone (pictured), Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, SS&C Technologies. “In fact, on a year-over-year basis, the -1.35 per cent for January 2018 represents a sharp improvement from the -3.30 per cent reported
Societe Generale Prime Services has launched a new SG Multi Alternative Risk Premia Index, a performance benchmark for alternative risk premia managers who employ investment programs diversified across multiple asset classes and multiple risk premia factors.
The new Multi Alternative Risk Premia Index is the fifth daily index designed and calculated by Societe Generale. The Prime Services daily indices are an industry leading suite of performance benchmarks, based on the largest, most representative programs in their respective strategies. The indices calculate the daily rate of return for an equally weighted group of managers that are open to new investment and
SS&C Technologies Holdings is to acquire DST Systems, a provider of proprietary technology-based information processing and servicing solutions.
Under the terms of the agreement, SS&C will purchase DST in an all-cash transaction for USD84 per share plus assumption of debt, equating to an enterprise value of approximately USD5.4 billion.
DST is a global provider of specialised technology, strategic advisory and business operations outsourcing to the financial services and healthcare industries. DST provides solutions through a unique blend of industry knowledge and experience, technological expertise and service excellence to clients across asset management, brokerage, retirement and healthcare. Headquartered in Kansas
PineBridge Investments, a private, global asset manager, has appointed Michael Karpik as Chief Operating Officer (COO).
Karpik, who will be based in PineBridge’s New York City headquarters and will report to CEO Gregory Ehret, will be directly responsible for the firm’s global operations, finance, compliance, risk management, product management, funds, and technology functions.
“Mike’s skill set and experience are a great fit for PineBridge,” says Ehret. “As we continue to grow and evolve as a firm, we are focused on having a strong and scalable operational infrastructure that keeps pace with our progress, anticipates our clients’ needs, and addresses
Northern Trust Corporation has reached an agreement with Citadel to bring Omnium technology development in-house – including a team of key development professionals as well as software development rights for its Omnium technology platform.
The agreement gives Northern Trust greater control over technological enhancements. Additionally, the transaction enables deeper collaboration between Northern Trust’s operations professionals and the team of developers to provide innovative solutions for alternative fund managers, asset managers, institutional investors and family offices worldwide.
Northern Trust acquired Citadel’s hedge fund administration business (Omnium®) in 2011 and licensed their middle and back office investment technology. That business, now
Cohen & Company has opened a new office in downtown Chicago, Illinois and announced several significant management-level hires.
The firm recently announced it had merged with Arthur Bell CPAs to create the premier, full service accounting and consulting practice supporting asset managers with the best talent, technical expertise and client service approach. This announcement illustrates Cohen & Company’s follow-through on that strategy.
As a leading US financial marketplace, Chicago is home to many of Cohen & Company’s existing clients. The new office is led by Vince Curttright, an audit partner formerly with a large, national firm. Vince brings over
Gemini saw a surge in hedge and alternative fund clients during 2017, and expects this strong momentum to continue into 2018.
David Young (pictured), President of Gemini’s hedge funds and alternatives business lines, says: “We have a track record of responding rapidly when managers need to get to market with unique strategies, instruments, and specialised wrappers. Our team-based consultative approach enables us to support new investment structures, instruments, accounting methods, portfolio affects, and asset types.”
To support this continued growth and expansion, Gemini recently promoted Skyler Steinke to Senior Vice President of Business Development for Hedge/Alternatives.
Steinke says:
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