Alternative investments

ProShares has launched the ProShares UltraShort TIPS exchange-traded fund, which seeks to deliver -2x the daily return of the Barclays U.S. Treasury Inflation Protected Securities Index.

Genworth Financial Wealth Management has added alternative investment specialist Altegris Advisors to its investment platform.

Forward Funds has launched the Forward Commodity Long/Short Strategy Fund, which aims to profit from both up and down movements of commodity prices.

An innovative do-it-yourself investment platform is looking to broaden its business by providing high-net-worth-style service to investors who have as little as $50,000.

361° Capital has launched the 361° Absolute Alpha Fund, its first mutual fund.

Turner Funds on Monday debuted three new long/short mutual funds, the Turner Market Neutral, Turner Medical Sciences and Turner Titan funds.

John Hancock Funds announced on Tuesday its new John Hancock Alternative Asset Allocation Fund, a multi-managed fund that John Hancock will manage along with five other leading asset management firms: PIMCO, Wellington Management, Dimensional Fund Advisors, Stone Harbor, Deutsche Asset Management and First Quadrant.

Forward Management on Tuesday launched the Forward Tactical Enhanced Fund, an absolute return fund that seeks to deliver returns regardless of the market’s direction.

Frost Investment Advisors has launched the Frost Diversified Strategies Fund, a mutual fund that combines hedge and private equity approaches. The fund seeks to reduce downside volatility while providing upside investment opportunities.

RiverNorth Capital, in partnership with DoubleLine as sub-advisor, has launched the RiverNorth/DoubleLine Strategic Income Fund.

BNY Mellon Wealth Management is now offering its private banking clients Cash Management Access Accounts that will allow them to manage banking and self-directed investments in one place.

ETF Securities on Friday began trading its new exchange-traded product, the ETFS Physical Asian Gold Shares, on NYSE Arca.

Liberty Street Advisors has launched the Center Coast MLP Focus Fund, a mutual fund that will invest in midstream energy infrastructure master limited partnerships. It will be sub-advised by Center Coast Capital Advisors of Houston, whose founder Dan Tutcher is well known in the MLP sector.

In an effort to provide investors with greater diversification, Prudential Investments has launched the Prudential Real Assets Fund, which will invest in real estate, metals, fuel and other commodities. In addition, the fund aims to protect investors against inflation and rising interest rates.

U.S. REITs continued to significantly outperform the broader equity market in 2010, the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts said Wednesday. U.S. REITs rose 27.95% in 2010, compared to the S&P 500’s 15.06% gain.

ProShares on Tuesday launched two volatility exchange-traded funds, the ProShares VIX Short-Term Futures and the ProShares VIX Mid-Term Futures funds.

Loomis Sayles on Wednesday launched the Loomis Sayles Absolute Strategies Fund, a flexible, risk-managed absolute return fund.

Asset management fees for hedge funds, private equity, infrastructure and real estate have all fallen in both pooled and separately managed accounts, according to the 2010 Asset Manager Fee Survey by Mercer.

ProShares’ new ProShares RAFI Long/Short exchange-traded fund began trading on NYSE Arca Thursday.

ETF Securities’ ETFS Physical White Metals Basket Shares (WITE) began trading on the NYSE Arca Friday.