Laxman Pai, Opalesque Asia: Family offices scored average returns of 15.5% last year, up from 7% in 2016 and 0.3% the prior year, according to UBS Group and Campden Wealth.
Asian family offices led the way with a 16.4% return in 2017, fueled by soaring stock markets and private equity, according to a press statement issued by Campden yesterday.
Continued improved returns in 2017 was largely due to family offices' continued preference for equities. Families allocated 28% of their average portfolio to equity markets, up by 4.3 percentage points year-on-year.
After surveying 311 family offices with an average size of $808 million assets under management, the research said: "This represents an on-going shift driven by fruitful gains, as last year's report announced a similar 2.6 percentage point increase in developed markets equities allocations."
Within their equity portfolio, family offices invested 22% in developed markets and 6% in developing markets. The strategy paid off, with developed markets returning 23% and developing markets returning 38% last year.
Family offices favour alternatives
Almost half of the average family office portfolio (46%) is now allocated to alternative investments-a 2.9 percentage point increase from the previous year, despite a large reduction in hedge fund allocations.
Private equity remained a stronghold in family office portfolios, with allocations increasing to 22%, up 2.8 percentage points from 2017...................... To view our full article Click here
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