Lyxor maintain overweight on merger arbitrage... [more]Laxman Pai, Opalesque Asia: Alternative strategies appear overall attractive but dispersion across strategies might be high, said Lyxor in its weekly brief. "As we start 2019, we are positioned around three axes: reduce exposure to high beta strategies, reduce sensitivity to Momentum, and lev

Asia-Pacific outpaces global AUM, doubling to $30tn by 2025: PwC... [more]Laxman Pai, Opalesque Asia: By 2025, assets under management (AUM) in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) is set to outpace any other region globally, and almost double that from 2017. According to a report released by PwC, Asia-Pacific AUM is set to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 8.7%, from $1

Swiss Bank Falcon launches crypto wallet... [more]Laxman Pai, Opalesque Asia: Switzerland-based Falcon Private Bank has introduced a cryptocurrency wallet as well as support for direct transfers and storage of select cryptocurrencies for private and institutional investors. According to an official press release, both private and institution

Asset managers brace for more job cuts amid market turbulence... [more]From Reuters: Turmoil on financial markets is expected to deepen layoffs and accelerate acquisitions in the fund management industry. BlackRock, the world's largest money manager, and industry No. 3 State Street announced job cuts this month after the worst year for many stock indexes since the fina

Hedge funds get key role at $140bn Swedbank money manager... [more]From Bloomberg: At Swedbank Robur, which manages about $140 billion in assets, hedge funds are playing a bigger role in helping the firm tackle whiplash-prone markets. The Swedish asset manager, a unit of Swedbank AB, took a more cautious approach to equities through 2018, and says it's relying more

New Launches: Bond firm Sky Harbor unveils short maturity sustainable HY fund, Vontobel launches alternative risk premia fund, Franklin Templeton launches EMD fund for AA-rated trio... [more]Bond firm Sky Harbor unveils short maturity sustainable HY fund From City Wire: Demand for ESG-conscious fixed income funds is growing, and US group Sky Harbor Capital Management has launched a sustainability-focused short maturity high yield fund to capture is this appetite. The Sky

Investing: Hedge funds buy oil amid greater optimism on economy, Investors risk losing faith in returns on offer from 'Big Oil', Watermark quits global equities... [more]Hedge funds buy oil amid greater optimism on economy From Reuters: Hedge funds have started to accumulate bullish positions in crude oil and diesel once more, amid rising optimism about the outlook for the global economy in 2019. Hedge funds and other money managers increased their ne

Institutional Investors: Infrastructure investors put 'blanket ban' on UK assets, Swiss pension fund tenders $4bn currency overlay mandate, Institutions expect more market turmoil, Canada's vast pension fund is sticking with China even as political tensions mount, PMT and PME invest $170.47m in technology fund... [more]Infrastructure investors put 'blanket ban' on UK assets From FT: Some of the world's biggest infrastructure investors have introduced a "blanket ban" on further investment in UK rail, energy and water projects, citing the country's "very negative" and "hostile" political and regulatory en

People: Ex-Janus Henderson boss named Jupiter AM CEO, Hermes poaches UBS director for fixed income team, BlackRock hires head of investment stewardship for Asia... [more]Ex-Janus Henderson boss named Jupiter AM CEO From City Wire: Jupiter has announced former Janus Henderson co-CEO Andrew Formica as its new chief executive, with incumbent Maarten Slendebroek set to step down in March. Formica's appointment, which is subject to regulatory approval, is part

Crypto: Cryptocurrencies fail fundamental tests, BOE's van Steenis says, Major central bank institution BIS: Bitcoin must depart from proof-of-work, MIT professor: Blockchain can allow for more inclusive, borderless economy, Wyoming bill would clear the way for crypto custody at banks, Brexit deal or no deal: The effect on UK's blockchain industry... [more]Cryptocurrencies fail fundamental tests, BOE's van Steenis says From Bloomberg: Cryptocurrencies fail fundamental tests of financial services, according to Huw van Steenis, senior adviser to Bank of England Governor Mark Carney. Van Steenis, who previously worked at Schroders and Morg

U.S.: The overlooked hero behind Sears's success, Battle of the billionaires: Trump could face a super-rich challenger in 2020, US investors more bearish than bullish... [more]The overlooked hero behind Sears's success Frm Washington Post: Sears chairman Eddie Lampert's ESL hedge fund staved off, at least temporarily, the company's liquidation with a $5.2 billion bid at a bankruptcy auction last week in New York. Creditors of the former department store colossu

Europe: Elliott has a rocky path to Telecom Italia victory, Casino completes $1.7bn disposal plan with Fortress deal, Brexit: Fund firms start 'temporary permissions' exercise... [more]Elliott has a rocky path to Telecom Italia victory From Bloomberg: Vivendi SA's plans for Telecom Italia SpA haven't quite been dealt a sucker punch by Italian regulators. But they - and billionaire Vincent Bollore, who controls the firm - certainly received a blow. The focus should now s

Asia: China's economic growth slowest since 1990 amid trade war with US, Why the outlook for Chinese property developers is stable in 2019... [more]China's economic growth slowest since 1990 amid trade war with US From The Guardian: China's economy grew 6.6% in 2018, its slowest pace in almost 30 years, confirming a slowdown in the world's second largest economy that could threaten global growth. After years of breakneck expansio

Opinion: Can you beat Warren Buffett's investment returns using data?... [more]From Seeking Aplha: The ideal hedge fund portfolio would use leverage to take a variety of uncorrelated risks that all cancel each other out, leaving the fund with little to no net exposure. For example, if you could invest in enough items with no correlation to the business cycle, like earthqua

Activists: Elliott Advisors has its eye on a stake in Dixons Carphone, Just Eat boss steps down immediately after only 18 months in the role, Gulfport Energy under pressure to expand stock buyback... [more]Elliott Advisors has its eye on a stake in Dixons Carphone From This Is Money: Elliott Advisors has its eye on a stake in Dixons Carphone after a sharp fall in the struggling retailer's share price. The vulture hedge fund, which has demanded major overhauls at a string of Britain's bigge

News Briefs: Whopping donation: $120m funds UVA's new School of Data Science, How Macau casinos can turn the trade war tables... [more]Whopping donation: $120m funds UVA's new School of Data Science Jaffray Woodriff, who made a fortune using data science in the investment world, has bestowed upon his alma mater its largest donation ever to create a School of Data Science. It will build on the university's existing Instit

And, finally: Love at first arrest... [more]From Newsoftheweird: It was love at first ... arrest, for 27-year-old Ashley Keister of Nanticoke, Pennsylvania, when she was apprehended by a West Wyoming, Pennsylvania, police officer last year. Ever since, Police Chief Curtis Nocera told the Associated Press, Keister had been harassing the office