Alternative investments

Ernst & Young LLP has appointed Julie Canty and Carlos A. Schmidt as partners in the firm’s Asset Management Tax practice.

Hatteras Funds this week launched a new variable trust fund, the Hatteras Alpha Hedged Strategies Variable Fund, which made its debut on the flat-fee variable annuity platform of Jefferson National last month and will bet on “multiple” hedge fund managers.

Financial advisors plan to increase their use of alternative investments this year, according to Jackson National Life Insurance Co. One big challenge: they need to understand the asset class better.

J.P. Morgan Asset Management has filed paperwork with the Securities and Exchange Commission to launch the JPMorgan Commodities Strategy Fund.

Advisors are looking to adopt alternative investments in their portfolios but are leaning on guided strategies from fund firms to do so, according to a new survey by Jackson National Life Insurance Company.

Alternative mutual fund shop Hatteras Funds has launched a new variable trust fund, the Hatteras Alpha Hedged Strategies Variable Fund, which will bet on “multiple” hedge fund managers.

Financial services-focused private equity shop Lightyear Capital LLC has appointed Jerry W. Miller, former president and chief executive officer of Van Kampen Investments, as a senior advisor on behalf of its affiliated funds.

On July 6, 2012, IndexIQ plans to close the IQ South Korea Small Cap ETF (NYSE Arca: SKOR).

On July 6, 2012, BlackRock, Inc. has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Swiss Re Private Equity Partners AG (SRPEP), which is the European private equity and infrastructure fund of funds franchise of Swiss Re.

When it comes to sector exchange-traded funds, know what you're buying.

In the span of 12 months, the Active Bear Exchange-Traded Fund (HDGE) has become a wirehouse darling. The fund has multiplied its assets eight-fold from $40 million in assets in January 2011 to $319 million at press time.

PIMCO is ramping up its alternative investment team with a trio of new hires from big-name hedge funds.

PIMCO is ramping up its alternative investment team with a trio of new hires from big-name hedge funds.

Wealth managers are making alternative investments more of a priority to meet the expectations of their clients and help grow total assets under management.

On June 26, 2012, State Street Global Advisors today released its mid-year exchange-trade fund report, dubbed 2012 ETF & Investment Outlook: Sinking or Swimming?

kasina is beefing up its sales and marketing unit by promoting Mariel Donnelly to the newly created position of Business Development Specialist.

Unlike funds that target clean tech or alternative energy, the new ETF will focus on a broader universe of companies that have the goal of making money.

On June 21, 2012, Susan L. Wagner, a founding partner of BlackRock, is retiring as a Vice Chairman of BlackRock and has been elected to BlackRock’s Board of Directors.

Now alternative mutual funds will be rated in similar fashion to its more traditional counterparts.

On June 21, 2012, now alternative mutual funds will be rated in similar fashion to its more traditional counterparts.