All Alternatives articles – Page 188
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Features
Never mind the quality, feel the width
In times gone by, in a market that has long since evolved, there was just one way to tell whether an institution was getting value for money from its forex provider. Luckily for the investor, it was a very simple measure of value, easily observed. This universal metric was, of ...
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Features
Obtaining fair value for money
All investment transactions are the result of the interplay between the investment fundamentals of risk, return and cost. Transacting derivative deals enables the risk and return characteristics of portfolios to be altered and costs to be controlled or reduced. The fact that, by definition, the value of a derivative is ...
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Features
Innovative products enliven the market
The major trend in European derivatives has been the degree of innovation in terms of the listed derivatives markets. This ranges from the initiatives into single stock futures as developed by the London International Financial Futures & Options Exchange (Liffe), which include both domestic and a range of European and ...
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Features
A useful tool, but handle with care
Pension fund trustees increasingly agree that derivatives, used correctly and with adequate controls, can provide benefits to their funds by lowering costs and allowing for the efficient implementation of investment strategies. At times, they can also boost performance and lower risk. Paul Myners, chairman of Gartmore Investment Management, suggests that ...
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Features
No need to shy away
European pension funds are not the most prolific users of derivatives. However, for some, options, futures and swaps form an integral part of the asset management process. This article provides a broad overview of the use of derivative instruments in several European markets and, more importantly, how these instruments can ...
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Features
Attitudes are changing
Pension funds are beginning to use derivatives more and more, particularly for asset allocation purposes, hedging their positions and portfolio transitions. Though the use of derivatives is now more common in the UK and the Netherlands, their use across Europe appears to be gaining acceptance. Trevor Robinson of Trevor Robinson ...
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Features
An asset class in their own right?
Given the use of derivatives it is an interesting question to consider whether derivatives should be considered as an asset class in their own right. Derivatives are all about managing risk. They give a financial exposure to the underlying asset or assets on which they are based. There is also ...
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News
PGGM leading strategist retires
NETHERLANDS – Marinus Keijzer, an adviser to the director of investments at Zeist based NLG110bn (e50bn) Dutch superfund PGGM is to take early retirement from the scheme....
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News
UK pension fund pursues private equity strategy
UK – The London Borough of Newham is looking to appoint a private equity manager to invest between £5-15m (e8-24m) in a private equity fund of funds mandate....
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News
Indocam buys alternative investment outfit
FRANCE/US – Indocam, the asset management arm of France’s Crédit Agricole group, has entered into an agreement to buy Alternative Investment Partners (AIP), the Franco-American alternative investment management specialist, for an undisclosed sum....
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News
Hedge fund adviser appoints European head
UK/EUROPE – Melissa Miller has been appointed as head of European client relations at alternative investment adviser Tremont TASS Europe….
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News
Hedge funds make five star offshore fund rating
UK – Only two offshore funds have received a five-star rating from independent investment consultant Global Fund Analysis (GFA), with many funds plummeting down the ratings as a result of the technology stock blow-out....
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News
Sweden's AP7 hires Goldman Sachs and Carlson
SWEDEN – The SEK14bn national PPM default fund Sjunde AP-fonden (AP7) has finalised its external investment manager line-up by appointing Goldman Sachs Asset Management to an e100m active European equity mandate and Carlson Investment Management to a SEK800m (e88.7m) active Swedish equity brief....
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News
Eureko gets Polish pensions green light
POLAND – The Polish treasury has finally settled its lengthy dispute with pan-European financial group Eureko by giving it the go-ahead to purchase a further 21% stake in the privatised Polish insurance group PZU, which covers 60% of the domestic market….
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News
Private equity weathers market squall
UK – Private equity investment appears to be weathering the stormy markets with the management buy-out sector recording its third highest quarterly level, according to figures from KPMG Corporate Finance....
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News
Swiss funds beat benchmarks for 2000
SWITZERLAND - Swiss pension funds in the ASIP/Watson Wyatt performance universe managed to outperform two of their three performance benchmarks in 2000….
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Zurich Scudder appoints new European strategy head
Colin Robertson has been appointed as European head of global strategy at Zurich Scudder Investments...
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News
Former Goldman's chief joins mPower Europe
UK/EUROPE – Charlie Metcalfe, the former head of Goldman Sachs Asset Management’s UK and Northern European business, has joined mPower Europe, the electronic investment services advisor, as managing director in the UK...
