Solutions
Poor hedge fund performance over the past 18 months means that managers face continued fee pressure from investors. As a result, smaller and emerging hedge funds are becoming increasingly attracted to non-conventional prime brokers that are able to offer automated solutions for risk management, account management, trade execution and pricing.
Leading the pack is Interactive Brokers, which has been built on three pillars: low cost, breadth of product (globally) and best-of-breed technology and trading tools.
"These things are becoming much more important as the hedge fund industry becomes more competitive," says Steve Sanders (pictured), EVP, Marketing and Product Development. "What
One of the unintended consequences of market regulation is that it has, to some extent, leveled the playing field. In what was once a fiercely competitive environment dominated by bank-owned prime brokers, in recent years a slew of new entrants has emerged, offering different service models for managers to consider.
Indeed, in early December, ING Capital Markets LLC were the latest to say that they were expanding into PB with the launch of a synthetic prime brokerage platform to provide global, cross-asset portfolio swap products.
"We offer the flexibility of a multi-asset portfolio swap which is operationally efficient, streamlined and
The Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect provides international investors with another direct link to access China’s domestic A-shares market and especially the stocks on the tech-heavy Shenzhen market. It also provides Luxembourg investment funds with access to a new asset class.
Shenzhen Connect is the latest step in providing mutual access between the capital markets in China's mainland and Hong Kong, following the launch of a link between the Shanghai and Hong Kong exchanges in 2014. The market infrastructure arrangements under Shenzhen Connect replicate those provided for under the original Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect (Shanghai Connect) pilot programme.
The Shenzhen Connect
Blue Isle FX is to act as the prime broker for three Global Fund SAC hedge funds – the Geluk Global Gold Fund, the Global Marco Premier Fund and the Geluk Global Macro Accelerated Fund.
"We have been very impressed with the Blue Isle FX team, which is led by a 25+ year experienced team who offers only ECN/STP market liquidity and who fully understand the importance of direct market access with straight through processing. We're confident that by working with Blue Isle FX our trading team will have the advantage with institutional execution," says Geluk Capital Management founder Douglas
Eze Software Group, a provider of global investment management technology, has opened an office in Toronto.
The Toronto location marks a new chapter in Eze Software’s growth in North America, enabling the team to provide faster on-the-ground support for implementations and client operations in Canada.
“As long-time technology partners to Canada’s investment management community, we’ve seen the market become more sophisticated and complex over the last few years,” says Pete Sinisgalli (pictured), CEO. “Having an office in Canada will allow us to be closer to our clients and facilitate faster and better service, in line with our strategy of
Abacus Group, a provider of hosted cloud IT solutions for hedge funds and other alternative investment funds, has expanded its cybersecurity services with the launch of AbacusFLEX Protect.
FLEX Protect provides auditing and reporting capabilities and leverages Varonis DatAdvantage, a solution that monitors file activity and user behaviour to manage permissions, identify where sensitive data resides and prevent breaches.
The requirements of hedge funds to improve their internal operations to address and protect against cyber security threats continues to increase. Regulatory groups in the US and UK and hedge fund investors globally are proactively looking at individual funds to ensure
ifund and fundinfo have launched Digital-Advisor, a cloud-based system for fund selection.
The tool scores active and passive funds based on scientific criteria derived from up-do-date and in-depth research on a wide range of success factors.
It analyses data about fund houses, fund managers and their investment processes, then combines the results with an investor’s preferences and convictions to instantly generate a list of recommended mutual funds and ETFs.
Fund analysts can use Digital-Advisor to obtain a short-list of attractive funds which they can evaluate in greater detail with fund managers. Banks can use the plug-in within their
The Cyprus Investment Funds Association (CIFA), a representative industry body of over 230 members based in Cyprus, has become an associate member of the International Capital Markets Association (ICMA).
ICMA, the association for the global sell-side and buy-side industry, will support the development of Cyprus’ position as an emerging European funds jurisdiction.
CIFA’s affiliation with the ICMA follows its upgrade to full member status of the National Association of the European Fund and Asset Management Association (EFAMA), granted in June 2016.
CIFA’s accession to the ICMA follows a number of recent measures that have enhanced the legislative and
BNY Mellon has migrated its clients’ assets to direct accounts with Monte Titoli, using its connection to TARGET2-Securities (T2S).
As a directly connected participant (DCP) to T2S, BNY Mellon will settle transactions in listed securities, such as equities and fixed income with Monte Titoli.
BNY Mellon will also provide clients with portfolio servicing activities, including corporate actions, income processing, tax and proxy voting. Previously BNY Mellon settled transaction in the Italian market through sub-custodian services.
Monte Titoli is the authorised central securities depositary (CSD) for centralised administration, settlement and ancillary services in the Italian market.
“We are
Global fund administrator FundBPO has opened an office in Malta which will be headed by new hire Malcolm St John.
St John has more than 15 years of fund services experience, most recently with Apex Fund Services and HSBC.
The office opening follows FundBPO’s receipt of a Recognition Certificate from the Malta Financial Services Authority to act as a fund administrator in Malta.
Malta is an emerging jurisdiction for the formation and administration of funds in the European Union, with a net asset value of EUR10 billion in over 500 locally based funds.
FundBPO (Malta) Limited’s new
