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A total of 21 new liquid alternative funds were launched in Q4 2017, including 11 Equity Hedge Funds and five Multi-Strategy Funds, according to the Wilshire Funds Management Q4 Liquid Alternatives Industry Monitor.
Additionally, there were nine liquidations.
The AUM of the Liquid Alternatives Universe increased by USD4.4 billion during Q4 2017 with inflows of approximately USD4.3 billion during the period. The Global Macro space posted slight outflows of USD0.3 billion, reversing the net inflows of USD0.14 billion in the third quarter.
In total, 49 new liquid alternative funds were launched in 2017, including 23 equity hedge funds
Saxo Bank has enhanced it FX Prime offering catering for institutional clients with the launch of full amount execution capabilities running on dedicated infrastructure through the company’s DMA liquidity hubs in London and New York.
Saxo Bank says the new facility ensures a better trade experience and lower market impact for large orders in FX and precious metals. Demand has been driven by growth in small to mid-sized institutional clients turning to Saxo for direct market access and liquidity optimisation services.
Lucian Lauerman (pictured), Global Head of Electronic Distribution, says: “We have grown our Prime of Prime business quite
The Preqin All-Strategies HedgeFund Benchmark generated 1.15 per cent in December, according to the latest Preqin Hedge Fund Performance Update.
In addition to pushing the benchmark’s annual return to its highest level since 2013, the positive end to the year also marks the first time the Preqin All-Strategies Hedge Fund benchmark has recorded a positive return during every month of a calendar year.
Funds focused on the Asia-Pacific region were the top performers of 2017, with the region delivering its strongest annual performance this decade (18.66 per cent), up from the 2.37 per cent generated in 2016.
Funds
ACA Compliance Group has expanded its team of over 185 compliance professionals with new employees who have extensive industry experience.
Robert Horvath is a Senior Compliance Consultant based in San Francisco. Robert served as Securities Compliance Examiner with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and as CCO at Standard Pacific Capital, LLC, Lateef Investment Management, LP, and ABR Investment Strategy, LLC.
Lior Kosovski is a Principal Consultant based in the Los Angeles office. Lior was a Corporate, Investment Funds, Advisers and Derivatives Associate for Sidley Austin, LLP. He later worked as General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer for Commonwealth
BNY Mellon is to launch a new prime brokerage service for its institutional clients in ‘early 2018’ aimed at allowing partcipants to trade, finance and margin their FX more efficiently.
BNY Mellon says the new will provide clients with access to a significant new source of FX liquidity while helping streamline and reduce operational expenses, including legal and onboarding costs, as well as generating substantial capital and netting gains.
Clients will be able to transact an extensive suite of FX products while also enjoying access to pre- and post-trade services and BNY Mellon’s collateral, funding and liquidity capabilities.
The introduction of
Muzinich & Co has launched a new European-focused total return credit strategy targeting enhanced returns and reduced downside risk against large drawdowns.
The Muzinich European Credit Alpha Fund, a sub-fund of Muzinich’s Irish-domiciled UCITS range, will be managed by Thomas Samson, who has delivered strong performance over many years with the firm’s European High Yield Fund. He will be supported by Assistant Portfolio Manager Hugo Squire.
The Fund aims to generate attractive mid-to-high single-digit returns over the course of a full market cycle. This long/short, total-return credit strategy seeks to predominantly invest across European credit markets in strong conviction
By Matt Mulry (pictured), Dillon Eustace – In the shadow of an impending review by the Financial Acting Task Force the Cayman Islands has undertaken an overhaul of its laws, regulations and guidance notes which govern its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing regime.
PEGAS, a pan-European gas trading platform operated by Powernext, achieved its best trading results in 2017 by reaching a new record with 1,953.9 TWh, improving its previous record (1,733.3 TWh in 2016) by almost 13 per cent.
The top volume was still observed on the Dutch TTF delivery area where over 1,223 TWh were traded across both spot and futures segments, along with the bigger growth percentage (14 per cent). The Austrian CEGH VTP performed remarkably well in 2017 with 88.9 TWh, regularly achieving monthly volume records in its first full year on PEGAS.
Dr Egbert Laege (pictured), President
The Foreign Exchange Professionals Association (FXPA) has appointed John Shay (pictured), as President of the organisation, a newly created role. Additionally, FXPA has hired Mercury Strategies, represented by Justin Slaughter, as its new legal counsel.
“We are excited to welcome John and Justin to FXPA. They will be involved on a day-to-day basis, leading the group’s efforts to focus on the issues that matter most to the FX industry and help fulfil our mission statement, which is to advance a sound, liquid, transparent and competitive global currency market through education, research and advocacy,” says FXPA Chairman Chip Lowry.
“Through
The Taiwan Futures Exchange (TAIFEX) has launched two new FX futures contracts – GBP/USD Futures and AUD/USD Futures.
The addition of the two new futures contracts is the next step in TAIFEX’ strategy to rapidly expand its FX product line, which it began building in 2015 with the introduction of RMB FX Futures, followed by the introduction of RMB FX Options, EUR/USD Futures and USD/JPY Futures in 2016.
Dr Len-Yu Liu, Chairman of TAIFEX, says: “With Taiwan being one of the world’s most trade-connected economies, it is essential that TAIFEX continues to provide local investors and exporters, as well
