PGIM Investments launches first ESG equity strategy... [more]Laxman Pai, Opalesque Asia: PGIM Investments has introduced its first ESG equity strategy to its Ucits platform, joining a number of fixed income funds incorporating an ESG process. The PGIM QMA Global Core Equity ESG fund is sub-advised by QMA, a quantitative equity and global multi-asset s

Emerging technologies, defensive investment strategy on top asset owners' minds: State Street... [more]Laxman Pai, Opalesque Asia: Nearly half (48%) of the institutional investors surveyed identified emerging technology as a top enabler of growth over the next five years, revealed a study. According to a new research from State Street, the participants identified blockchain, artificial intell

Slowing down investments in long-only, high-net-worth investors look to hedge funds and alternatives... [more]Laxman Pai, Opalesque Asia: 90% of high-net-worth investors are willing to invest in hedge funds and other alternative investments, said a survey. High-net-worth investors have slowed their investments into stocks, bonds and mutual funds and instead are exploring opportunities in hedge funds

EJF Capital, SkyBridge launch Opportunity Zone REIT... [more]Laxman Pai, Opalesque Asia: Hedge fund manager EJF Capital and global alternative investment firm SkyBridge Capital announced the launch of the SkyBridge-EJF Opportunity Zone REIT (SOZ REIT). Skybridge, which manages approximately $9.4bn, says, SOZ REIT has a mandate to invest in U.S. Treasur

Performance: India, China funds shine in tough November for hedge funds, The funds that took a hit on Interserve's share collapse... [more]India, China funds shine in tough november for hedge funds The global hedge fund industry returned -0.31% in November, bringing year-to-date returns to -2.81% and marking the fourth consecutive month of negative industry returns, according to the just released eVestment November 2018 hedg

New Launches: Oak Hill Capital eyes $3bn for Fund V, Singapore's Jungle Ventures hunts for $200m for third fund, JMI Equity closes latest fund at $1.2bn, BlueOrchard launches Ucits impact bond fund, UK: VCT fundraising in 2017/18 second highest on record, HMRC confirms, New billion dollar fund launches... [more]Oak Hill Capital eyes $3bn for Fund V From Altassets: Oak Hill Capital Partners is looking to raise up to $3bn for its fifth flagship fundraise. The firm has yet to register any capital commitments for Fund V, according to a SEC filing. It's unclear whether the amount listed on the fillin

Fund Closures: Ex-Lehman Brothers executive to shut down major hedge fund... [more]From NY Post: A hedge fund run by former executives of Lehman Brothers reportedly plans to close down after devastating client withdrawals. New York-based River Birch Capital, co-founded by former Lehman President and Chief Operating Officer Bart McDade, is returning client capital after losing

Hong Kong Bill may hand tax exemptions to local hedge funds... [more]From Bloomberg: Hong Kong has proposed widening tax breaks to include hedge and private equity funds that are domiciled in the city in a move market watchers say should encourage more of them to move there. Locally domiciled vehicles that can only be sold to qualified institutions and wealthy i

Investing: $9bn hedge fund manager David Abrams says that in 20 years, Google won't be the tech powerhouse, Investors bet $10bn against popular bond ETFs, Bridgewater's former emerging-market head bets on biggest losers... [more]$9bn hedge fund manager David Abrams says that in 20 years, Google won't be the tech powerhouse From Business Insider: The hedge fund manager David Abrams says Google is "making more money than they know what to do with" right now but will not be the same powerhouse in 20 years. Complace

Institutional Investors: Polaris, Acathia to buy Danica Pension Sweden from Danske Bank, Minnesota State Board of Investment slates $1bn for private markets, $36.37bn LGPS pool appoints manager trio for UK equities, Lexington Partners leads $1bn deal to buy stakes in 2 TPG Asia funds... [more]Polaris, Acathia to buy Danica Pension Sweden from Danske Bank Danica Pension, Livsforsikringsaktieselskab, which is part of the Danske Bank Group, has entered into an agreement with an investor consortium consisting of the Nordic private equity fund Polaris and the German private equity

People: Finitive appoints Neil Wolfson to board of directors, LGIM hires lead manager for L&G UK Special Situations trust, Credit Suisse nabs ex-iShares veteran as head of asset management in Italy, GAM to cut 18 investment manager positions... [more]Finitive appoints Neil Wolfson to board of directors Finitive, a financial technology platform providing institutional investors with direct access to alternative lending investments, announced today that seasoned fintech investor and executive Neil Wolfson has joined Finitive's board of

Crypto: Ex-Goldman Sachs partner still believes in cryptocurrency, South Korean crypto exchange launches Ripple-based blockchain remittance service, $930m in crypto stolen in first 3 quarters, UK MP calls for bitcoin payment for taxes, utilities, The future of ICOs: In the hands of regulators or innovators?... [more]Ex-Goldman Sachs partner still believes in cryptocurrency From NY Post: Mike Novogratz, the former hedge fund manager and ex-Goldman Sachs partner, said in an interview published Tuesday that Galaxy Digital, the cryptocurrency merchant bank he founded, can break even next year even after

Currency: Struggling hedge funds cling to dollar, U.S. yield curve bets: McGeever... [more]From Reuters: Hedge funds have struggled badly in 2018, but would be faring far worse were they not on the right side of two of the most reliable trades of the year: a flattening U.S. yield curve and a stronger dollar. Both trends remain in place, and as the latest data show, speculators look li

U.S.: Sears is worth more dead than alive, BlackRock's Bolton: US equities set to outperform next year... [more]Sears is worth more dead than alive Last week, ESL Investments - the hedge fund controlled by Eddie Lampert that is Sears Holdings largest creditor and top shareholder - made a bid to buy the floundering retailer out of bankruptcy. The fund prefaced its proposal by stating, "Sears is an i

Europe: Gilets Jaunes come to Brexit Britain's rescue, Italian bank merger on the cards after Banco BPM bad loan sale... [more]Gilets Jaunes come to Brexit Britain's rescue From Bloomberg: Fears about the euro, and doubts about U.S. rate hikes, may be setting a floor under sterling. There are two sides to currency trades. The pound has been pummeled after Prime Minister Theresa May delayed the parliamentary vote

Asia: China: Foreign asset managers eye a vast savings pot, Mainland firms drive Hong Kong product sales... [more]China: Foreign asset managers eye a vast savings pot From FT: When Chinese markets are in a slump, propaganda authorities often instruct official media to buck up investor sentiment. So it was in August, when the influential Securities Times trumpeted that international investors were " b

Opinion: The world's biggest hedge fund is getting whacked, and why "moneyness" matters, Ray Dalio says balanced portfolio of assets can help you weather a financial crisis... [more]The world's biggest hedge fund is getting whacked, and why "moneyness" matters From Gold Seek: A few years ago the Swiss National Bank (SNB) - which traditionally held "monetary assets" like government bonds, cash and gold to back up the Swiss franc - decided to branch out into common sto

Legal: Defunct Greenwich investment firm reaches seven-figure SEC settlement... [more]A disbanded Greenwich asset manager has reached a multimillion-dollar settlement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission tied to allegations that the firm wrongly funded affiliate businesses and inflated the value of its investments. Fifth Street Management, which was based at 777 W. P

Regulatory: UK Treasury paves way for Ucits funds and a "No-Deal" Brexit... [more]From Investment Europe: The UK treasury has introduced a safety net for mutual funds and alternative investment sub-funds under the Ucits regulations in case of a "no-deal" Brexit. Contrary to its previous plans, the UK treasury will also extend temporary permissions to funds which are to be la

Activists: Activist hedge fund Elliott takes stake in Pernod, Tiger Global boosts Fiat stake to become No. 2 investor, Serious battle for control of Detour Gold Corporation, Mitek rejects ASG's latest offer, says undervalues company, Housing policy experts warn against hedge fund plot to seize Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, Activist fund targets Korean Air as Seoul boosts investor powers... [more]Activist hedge fund Elliott takes stake in Pernod From Reuters: Activist hedge fund Elliott Management has taken a stake in Pernod Ricard aiming to improve what Elliott said was relative underperformance at the French drinks company. Elliott said on Wednesday that funds advised by the com

News Briefs: How to dress for a hedge fund interview, UK politicians blast Arconic's sale talks with Paul Singer, M&A outlook downgrades to neutral, according to survey... [more]How to dress for a hedge fund interview From eFinancial Careers: Unless you're out soliciting money from high-net worth clients, the dress code at most hedge funds is rather ambiguous. Most people don't wear suits, though some do. Others dress business casual or will even wear jeans.

And, finally: Russian police not fooled by cardboard bus costume... [more]From Newsoftheweird: The Zolotoy Bridge in Vladivostok, Russia, is more than a mile long and opened in 2012, but three years later, inspectors banned pedestrians from crossing it because the walkways were too narrow to be safe. United Press International reports the ban didn't stop four pedestr