Download or read book An Alternative Approach to Alternative Beta written by Thierry Roncalli and published by . This book was released on 2007 with total page 17 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Hedge fund replication based on factor models is encountering growing interest. In this paper, we investigate the implications of substituting standard rolling windows regressions, which appear ad-hoc, with more efficient methodologies like the Kalman Filter. We show that the copycats constructed this way offer risk-return profiles which share several characteristics with the ones posted by hedge funds indices: Sharpe ratios above buy-and-hold strategies on standard assets, moderate correlation with standard assets and limited drawdowns during equity downward trends. An interesting result is that the shortfall risk seems less important than with hedge fund indices and regressions based-trackers. We finally propose new breakdowns of hedge fund performance into alpha, traditional beta and alternative beta.
Download or read book Alternative Beta Strategies and Hedge Fund Replication written by Lars Jaeger and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2008-10-13 with total page 272 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: There s a buzzword that has quickly captured the imagination of product providers and investors alike: "hedge fund replication". In the broadest sense, replicating hedge fund strategies means replicating their return sources and corresponding risk exposures. However, there still lacks a coherent picture on what hedge fund replication means in practice, what its premises are, how to distinguish di erent approaches, and where this can lead us to. Serving as a handbook for replicating the returns of hedge funds at considerably lower cost, Alternative Beta Strategies and Hedge Fund Replication provides a unique focus on replication, explaining along the way the return sources of hedge funds, and their systematic risks, that make replication possible. It explains the background to the new discussion on hedge fund replication and how to derive the returns of many hedge fund strategies at much lower cost, it differentiates the various underlying approaches and explains how hedge fund replication can improve your own investment process into hedge funds. Written by the well known Hedge Fund expert and author Lars Jaeger, the book is divided into three sections: Hedge Fund Background, Return Sources, and Replication Techniques. Section one provides a short course in what hedge funds actually are and how they operate, arming the reader with the background knowledge required for the rest of the book. Section two illuminates the sources from which hedge funds derive their returns and shows that the majority of hedge fund returns derive from systematic risk exposure rather than manager "Alpha". Section three presents various approaches to replicating hedge fund returns by presenting the first and second generation of hedge fund replication products, points out the pitfalls and strengths of the various approaches and illustrates the mathematical concepts that underlie them. With hedge fund replication going mainstream, this book provides clear guidance on the topic to maximise returns.
Download or read book Alternative Beta Strategies in Commodities written by Daniel Ung and published by . This book was released on 2013 with total page 16 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Alternative beta strategies can serve a variety of different investment objectives, which may include reducing volatility or achieving tilts to systematic risk exposures. It is therefore essential for investors to examine whether these strategies meet their own investment objectives and risk-taking preferences. Two main approaches to alternative beta are reviewed in this paper: the 'risk-based approach,' which entails reducing portfolio risk; and the 'factor-based approach,' which involves enhancing return through earning systematic risk premia, with a focus on the latter. Whilst alternative beta is fairly well established in equity strategy investing, it is still a nascent concept in commodities. However, as a result of investors' pursuit of better diversified portfolios and a recognition that systematic risk factors explain the majority of returns, the development of commodity alternative beta products is gathering pace. This is not entirely unforseen, as investors now view their investment opportunity in the context of risk premia, rather than individual asset classes. From our investigation in this study, there appears to be potential benefit in allocating into alternative beta strategies as part of a portfolio's commodity allocation, and we find that combining risk-based and factor-based commodity strategies has historically delivered higher return and lower risk than passive long-only strategies on their own. Finally, it should be borne in mind that alternative beta strategies often take substantial active risks, which are largely driven by factor exposures. Factor returns can be volatile, and all alternative beta strategies can experience considerable drawdown at times. However, as these risk factors have a low correlation with each other, it may be sensible to combine them in order to improve return and reduce risk.
Download or read book The Little Book of Alternative Investments written by Ben Stein and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2011-02-25 with total page 288 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Praise For THE LITTLE BOOK OF ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENTS "Ben and Phil have done it again. Another lucid, insightful book, designed to enhance your wealth! In today's stock-addled cult of equities, there is a gaping hole in most investors' portfolios...the whole panoply of alternative investments that can simultaneously help us cut our risk, better hedge our inflation risk, and boost our return. This Little Book is filled with big ideas on how to make these markets and strategies a treasured part of our investing toolkit." —Robert Arnott, Chairman, Research Affiliates "I have been reading Ben Stein for thirty-five years and Phil DeMuth since he joined up with Ben ten years ago. They do solid work, and this latest is no exception." —Jim Rogers, author of A Gift to My Children "If anyone can make hedge funds sexy, Stein and DeMuth can, and they've done it with style in this engaging, instructive, and tasteful how-to guide for investing in alternatives. But you should read this Kama Sutra of investment manuals not just for the thrills, but also to learn how to avoid the hazards of promiscuous and unprotected investing." —Andrew Lo, Professor and Director, MIT Laboratory for Financial Engineering
Download or read book Generation Alt written by Clifford Jack and published by Pearson Education. This book was released on 2015 with total page 193 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Clifford Jack explores the increasing interest and strategic use of alternatives as a way to help manage volatility amid now-commonplace market swings. He demystifies the alternative asset class, identifies several portfolio strategies, tools and techniques while educating the reader in a colorful way"--Back cover.
Download or read book Smart Beta written by Romedius Troberg and published by Anchor Academic Publishing (aap_verlag). This book was released on 2015-03-25 with total page 74 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In economics, each and every rational decision made is supposed to maximize individual utility. This approach especially applies to the investor in financial goods. In accordance with neoclassical utility optimization, the individual investors are supposed to be willing to exchange investment good in order to maximize their expected future return. This approach anticipates every individual investor to try and estimate the future cash flows of the investment in order to evaluate its current value. Hence, trades at every stock exchange are to be executed at all times where you have two investors differing in their estimation of the intrinsic value of an investment product. As a consequence, every investor is supposed to create a portfolio with assets that in turn maximize his/her expected return. Every investor is supposed to make an individual and rational attempt to maximize his/her utility and to behave in a risk-averse manner. However, according to the neoclassical theory, it is not possible to gain more from an investment than the market does, as long as markets are efficient. Financial markets can be seen as the most efficient markets, if not the only efficient markets in real economy, as, in the market context, information is transferred the fastest and prices are thus adopted nearly instantly. Nevertheless, all investors at the stock exchanges try to make money by using their individual knowledge in order to gain something from investing in some assets. They have of course, at the same time, the possibility to follow the market themselves or to try to bet against the market. Every investor hence always faces the question of whether to trade on the market with his/her own individual knowledge in order to gain some additional utility, or to simply attempt to do the same as the whole market and follow the belief of the market at a whole. The question thus arises of what exactly efficient fund management looks like. This paper will discuss several possibilities which arise in literature and in the real economy when thinking about fund management, and will discuss the rather new concept of “Smart Beta” investments, in particular. The focus of this paper thus lies in the question of whether smart beta concepts serve as potential superior alternatives to the classical passive investment products.
Download or read book Alternative Investments written by CFA Institute and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2021-11-04 with total page 675 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The complete guide to alternative investments, from experts working with CFA Institute Alternative Investments is the definitive guide to understanding non-traditional asset classes. Alternatives are a disparate group of investments that are distinguished from long-only, publicly traded investments in stocks, bonds, and cash (often referred to as traditional investments). Alternative investments include real estate, commodities, infrastructure, and other non-traditional investments such as private equity or debt and hedge funds. They are attractive to investors because of the potential for portfolio diversification resulting in a higher risk-adjusted return for the portfolio. Alternative Investments and its accompanying workbook (sold separately) lead students and investment professionals through the many characteristics of non-traditional assets, including: Narrow specialization of the investment managers Relatively low correlation of returns with those of traditional investments Less regulation and less transparency than traditional investments Limited historical risk and return data Unique legal and tax considerations Higher fees, often including performance or incentive fees Concentrated portfolios Restrictions on redemptions (i.e. “lockups” and “gates”) CFA Institute is the world's premier association for investment professionals, and the governing body for the CFA® Program, CIPM® Program, CFA Institute ESG Investing Certificate, and Investment Foundations® Program. Those seeking a deeper understanding of the markets, mechanisms, and use of alternatives will value the level of expertise CFA Institute brings to the discussion, providing a clear, comprehensive resource for students and professionals alike. Whether used alone or in conjunction with the companion workbook, Alternative Investments offers a complete course in alternative investments and their role in investment management.
Download or read book Equity Smart Beta and Factor Investing for Practitioners written by Khalid Ghayur and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2019-06-12 with total page 496 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A guide to the popular and fast growing investment opportunities of smart beta Equity Smart Beta and Factor Investing for Practitioners offers a hands-on guide to the popular investment opportunities of smart beta, which is one of the fastest growing areas within the global equity asset class. This well-balanced book is written in accessible and understandable terms and contains an in-depth manual filled with analytical information and new ideas. The authors—noted experts in the field—include a definition of smart beta investing and detail its history. They also explore the distinguishing characteristics of smart beta strategies, offer an overview of factor investing, and reveal the implementation of smart beta approaches. Comprehensive in scope, the book contains helpful examples of applications, real-life illustrative case studies, and contributions from leading and respected practitioners that explain how they approach smart beta investing. This important book: Contains an in-depth exploration of smart beta investing Includes the information written in clear and accessible language Presents helpful case studies, illustrative examples, and contributions from leading and respected experts Offers a must have resource coauthored by the Head of Goldman Sachs’ equity smart beta business Written for investors who want to tap into the opportunities that smart beta offers, Equity Smart Beta and Factor Investing for Practitioners is the comprehensive resource for learning how to create more efficient overall equity portfolios.
Download or read book Alternative Beta Strategies written by Frank Benham and published by . This book was released on 2016 with total page 52 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Market capitalization weighted indices have historically been the most widely used strategies to achieve a passive exposure to equities markets, or capture equities beta. However, we have seen a surge of strategies called alternative betas (or sometimes “smart betas”) that, using different index construction methodologies, aim to provide a passive exposure to alternative sources of equity returns, or equity factors. This paper begins by reviewing the existing index construction methodologies used to achieve equity market beta exposure, and then turns to analyzing alternative beta strategies that aim to provide exposure to Value, Momentum, Low Volatility, and Quality as alternative sources of equity risk premia in a passive, index-like way.
Download or read book Alternative Investments written by CAIA Association and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2016-09-27 with total page 1207 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In-depth Level II exam preparation direct from the CAIA Association CAIA Level II is the official study guide for the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst professional examination, and an authoritative guide to working in the alternative investment sphere. Written by the makers of the exam, this book provides in-depth guidance through the entire exam agenda; the Level II strategies are the same as Level I, but this time you'll review them through the lens of risk management and portfolio optimisation. Topics include asset allocation and portfolio oversight, style analysis, risk management, alternative asset securitisation, secondary market creation, performance and style attribution and indexing and benchmarking, with clear organisation and a logical progression that allows you to customise your preparation focus. This new third edition has been updated to align with the latest exam, and to reflect the current practices in the field. The CAIA designation was developed to provide a standardized knowledge base in the midst of explosive capital inflow into alternative investments. This book provides a single-source repository of that essential information, tailored to those preparing for the Level II exam. Measure, monitor and manage funds from a risk management perspective Delve into advanced portfolio structures and optimisation strategies Master the nuances of private equity, real assets, commodities and hedge funds Gain expert insight into preparing thoroughly for the CAIA Level II exam The CAIA Charter programme is rigorous and comprehensive, and the designation is globally recognised as the highest standard in alternative investment education. Candidates seeking thorough preparation and detailed explanations of all aspects of alternative investment need look no further than CAIA Level II.
Download or read book Tracking Problems Hedge Fund Replication and Alternative Beta written by Thierry Roncalli and published by . This book was released on 2009 with total page 66 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: As hedge fund replication based on factor models has encountered growing interest among professionals and academics, and despite the launch of numerous products (indexes and mutual funds) in the past year, it faced many critics. In this paper, we consider three of the main critiques, namely the lack of reactivity of hedge fund replication and its deficiency in capturing tactical allocations; its failure to apprehend non-linear positions of the underlying hedge fund industry and higher moments of hedge fund returns; and, finally, the lack of access to the alpha of hedge funds. To address these problems, we consider hedge fund replication as a general tracking problem which may be solved by means of Bayesian filters. Using the linear Gaussian model as a basis for discussion, we provide the reader with an intuition for the inner tenets of the Kalman filter and illustrate the results' sensitivity to the algorithm specification choices. This part of the paper includes considerations on the type of strategies which can be replicated, as well as the problem of selecting factors. We then apply more advanced Bayesian filters' algorithms, known as particle filters, to capture the non-normality and non-linearities documented on hedge fund returns. Finally, we address the problem of accessing the pure alpha by proposing a core/satellite approach of alternative investments between high-liquid alternative beta and less liquid investments.
Download or read book CAIA Level II written by Melissa Donohue and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2010-11-29 with total page 22 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Alternative investments have become the 'brooding omnipresence' of modern finance. As such, they are at the core of any significant discussion relating to asset allocation, risk management, and portfolio design. The topics outlined and discussed in this text provide a meaningful stop on the road toward understanding the complexities and rewards of these instruments." —Garry Crowder, Director, Institute for Alternative Investment Education and Research Sponsored by the CAIA Association, the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) program consists of a two-tier exam process (Level I and Level II) through which you may earn the CAIA charter. The Level I exam challenges your understanding of the alternative investment market's tools and terms, and tests your knowledge of various trading strategies and performance measurements. The Level II exam assesses how you would apply the knowledge and analytics learned in Level I within an asset allocation framework. CAIA Level II: Advanced Core Topics in Alternative Investments contains virtually all of the material on alternative investments that potential Level II candidates would need to know as they prepare for the exam—a multifaceted assembly of questions and problem-solving tasks. Since the tools and terms introduced in Level I provide the basis for the second level of this program, the information found here will continue to focus on alternative investments—hedge funds, private equity, commodities and managed futures, and credit derivatives—but in greater depth and in the context of risk management and asset allocation. Whether you're a seasoned professional looking to explore new areas within the alternative investment arena or a new industry participant seeking to establish a solid understanding of alternative investments, CAIA Level II: Advanced Core Topics in Alternative Investments is the best way to achieve these goals, and the smartest way to prepare for such a demanding exam. Take your first steps toward attaining the CAIA charter by picking up CAIA Level I: An Introduction to Core Topics in Alternative Investments.
Download or read book Post Modern Investment written by Garry B. Crowder and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2012-11-08 with total page 349 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Debunking outdated and inaccurate beliefs about investment management and reveals the new realities of the post-modern financial markets There have been a lot of big changes in the investment world over the past decade, and many long-cherished beliefs about the structures and performance of various investments no longer apply. Unfortunately the news seems not to have reached many thought leaders and investment professionals who persist in trying, and failing, to apply 20th-century thinking to 21st-century portfolio management. Nowhere is this more true than when it comes to the subject of alternative investments. Written by an all-star team of investment management experts, this book debunks common myths and misconceptions about most classes of alternative investments and offers valuable advice on how to develop investment management and asset allocation strategies consistent with the new realities of the ever-changing world of alternative investments. Covers most alternative asset classes, including private equity, real estate, managed futures, hedge funds, commodity indices, and more Debunks long-held assumptions about the structure and performance of various investment classes that continue to dominate the industry Explores the implications for investment managers of the proliferation of international marketable securities and global financial markets Provides an overview of both the micro and the macro aspects of each alternative investment class
Download or read book Alternative Investments A Primer for Investment Professionals written by Donald R. Chambers and published by CFA Institute Research Foundation. This book was released on 2018 with total page 122 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Alternative Investments: A Primer for Investment Professionals provides an overview of alternative investments for institutional asset allocators and other overseers of portfolios containing both traditional and alternative assets. It is designed for those with substantial experience regarding traditional investments in stocks and bonds but limited familiarity regarding alternative assets, alternative strategies, and alternative portfolio management. The primer categorizes alternative assets into four groups: hedge funds, real assets, private equity, and structured products/derivatives. Real assets include vacant land, farmland, timber, infrastructure, intellectual property, commodities, and private real estate. For each group, the primer provides essential information about the characteristics, challenges, and purposes of these institutional-quality alternative assets in the context of a well-diversified institutional portfolio. Other topics addressed by this primer include tail risk, due diligence of the investment process and operations, measurement and management of risks and returns, setting return expectations, and portfolio construction. The primer concludes with a chapter on the case for investing in alternatives.
Download or read book Alternative Investments written by Donald R. Chambers and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2020-09-14 with total page 960 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Whether you are a seasoned professional looking to explore new areas within the alternative investment arena or a new industry participant seeking to establish a solid understanding of alternative investments, Alternative Investments: An Allocator's Approach, Fourth Edition (CAIA Level II curriculum official text) is the best way to achieve these goals. In recent years, capital formation has shifted dramatically away from public markets as issuers pursue better financial and value alignment with ownership, less onerous and expensive regulatory requirements, market and information dislocation, and liberation from the short-term challenges that undergird the public capital markets. The careful and informed use of alternative investments in a diversified portfolio can reduce risk, lower volatility, and improve returns over the long-term, enhancing investors' ability to meet their investment outcomes. Alternative Investments: An Allocator's Approach (CAIA Level II curriculum official text) is a key resource that can be used to improve the sophistication of asset owners and those who work with them. This text comprises the curriculum, when combined with supplemental materials available at caia.org, for the CAIA Level II exam. "Over the course of my long career one tenet has held true, 'Continuing Education'. Since CalSTRS is a teachers' pension plan, it is no surprise that continuing education is a core attribute of our Investment Office culture. Overseeing one of the largest institutional pools of capital in the world requires a cohesive knowledge and understanding of both public and private market investments and strategies. We must understand how these opportunities might contribute to delivering on investment outcomes for our beneficiaries. Alternative Investments: An Allocator's Approach is the definitive core instruction manual for an institutional investor, and it puts you in the captain's chair of the asset owner." —Christopher J. Ailman, Chief Investment Officer, California State Teachers’ Retirement System "Given their diversified cash flow streams and returns, private markets continue to be a growing fixture of patient, long-term portfolios. As such, the need to have proficiency across these sophisticated strategies, asset classes, and instruments is critical for today's capital allocator. As a proud CAIA charterholder, I have seen the practical benefits in building a strong private markets foundation, allowing me to better assist my clients." —Jayne Bok, CAIA, CFA, Head of Investments, Asia, Willis Tower Watson
Download or read book Alternative Investments written by Donald R. Chambers and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2020-03-16 with total page 928 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Alternative Investments: CAIA Level I, 4th Edition is the curriculum book for the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) Level I professional examination. Covering the fundamentals of the alternative investment space, this book helps you build a foundation in alternative investment markets. You'll look closely at the different types of hedge fund strategies and the range of statistics used to define investment performance as you gain a deep familiarity with alternative investment terms and develop the computational ability to solve investment problems. From strategy characteristics to portfolio management strategies, this book contains the core material you will need to succeed on the CAIA Level I exam. This updated fourth edition tracks to the latest version of the exam and is accompanied by the following ancillaries: a workbook, study guide, learning objectives, and an ethics handbook.
Download or read book Alternative Assets written by Guy Fraser-Sampson and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2010-12-01 with total page 249 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The investment landscape has changed dramatically over the last few years, destroying many of the old certainties by which investors lived their lives. In particular, it has shaken belief in the ability of traditional asset types such as bonds and equities to protect them from abnormal market conditions, and it has brought home how closely correlation between different markets can be squeezed together by extreme pressure. Future investors will have to regard so-called "alternative" assets as essential elements within their portfolios, and be prepared to deal with the complexities that this will entail. This will in turn force a re-appraisal of core concepts such as "risk" and "return", not least because some alternative asset classes do not lend themselves well to traditional return measures. Exciting times lie ahead, but a thorough working knowledge of the various alternative asset classes will be an essential pre-requisite to success, and perhaps even to survival. Alternative Assets meets investor's need for a guide on where to allocate in this new climate. It provides investors with a primer on each alternative asset class, as well as practical tips on the pros and cons, implementation, returns analysis, fees and costs. It also offers introductory guidance on how to set investment targets, and how alternative assets can be accommodated within the allocation process. Each chapter gives useful background knowledge on a particular asset type, including a discussion of whether a satisfactory beta return level exists and, if so, the different ways in which it might be accessed. Written by best-selling author Guy Fraser-Sampson, this book guides investors through the new look alternative investment arena, providing post-financial crisis perspective and investment advice on the alternatives landscape.
