Baring Asset Management (Barings), the international investment management firm, believes that as Asian economies continue to strengthen, Asian debt and currencies can provide some of the best absolute and risk-adjusted returns versus US and other global fixed income sectors. Thomas Kwan, Head of Asian Debt at Baring Asset Management comments:  “Asian debt, both local government and US dollar corporate, has been less volatile than emerging market debt and this stability has enabled the sector to deliver superior risk-adjusted returns in comparison to some other asset classes. We believe that the Asian bond market continues to offer attractive risk-adjusted returns for

Hedge funds gave back 1.13% in May according to the Barclay Hedge Fund Index compiled by BarclayHedge. Year-to-date, the Index remains up 1.87%. “After eight months of steady gains, the Barclay Hedge Fund Index fell back in May,” says Sol Waksman, founder and president of BarclayHedge. “Continuing turmoil in the Middle East, tightening in China, Eurozone concerns and the US debt ceiling debate all contributed to investor jitters and a resultant flight from risk assets.” Thirteen of Barclay’s 18 hedge fund indices were down in May, while five held their ground or advanced. The Emerging Markets Index took the biggest

By Paul Farrell (pictured), Ingrid Pierce and Deborah Poole – With the impact of the global financial crisis on the performance of investment funds fading, managers’ attention is increasingly focused on the evolving regulatory framework. However, the after-effects of the crisis linger on in issues related to managers’ power to suspend redemptions and the ability of disgruntled investors to wind up solvent funds. With final agreement on the EU’s Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive and the impending introduction of the Dodd-Frank Act in the US, 2011 represents perhaps the best capital-raising environment for some time, with hedge fund managers poised

By Simon Gray – Legislators, financial regulators and investors in alternative funds are examining how the informational deficiencies that did much to exacerbate the industry’s problems over the past few years can best be remedied. Their efforts to address the problems have already resulted in substantial changes in approach and working practices not only for hedge fund managers but for the firms that provide services to the sector. The need for greater transparency is resulting in new requirements for more frequent and more detailed reporting to regulators and to investors. It is also prompting the use of structures of which

By Andrew Dollery (pictured) and Sophie Bentley – The proliferation of alternative Ucits funds has become a key feature of the fund industry landscape as investors demand more regulated, transparent and liquid products. Newedge has responded to this demand by taking an open architecture approach to servicing Ucits-compliant strategies.  Some funds have chosen to launch through integrated Ucits platforms that offer an established legal entity and operational infrastructure. However, for many the benefits of launching a Ucits fund independently, despite the cost and work involved, outweigh the advantages of a platform. From a branding, control and cost perspective, we believe

By Simon Gray – The impact of the global financial crisis and economic downturn upon the alternative fund industry is reflected in a more difficult fundraising environment and new challenges for managers such as greater regulation and increased investor demands for transparency, according to leading providers of administration, legal and brokerage services to funds and their managers.  These developments have led to a shift from standardised products and industrialised processes toward greater service flexibility and customisation, the firms say. Off-the-shelf structures are frequently giving way to individualised investment solutions; service providers are moving away from centralised, often ‘offshored’ operations in