Alternative investments

There are thousands of hedge funds competing in the marketplace. They come in all shapes and sizes, but all too often they approach investors with the same thesis.

Total assets in registered alternative mutual funds and exchange-traded funds are projected to reach $330 billion by year-end 2012—nearly double the $169 billion of assets in 2007. If the industry can raise advisors’ and clients’ comfort level with liquid alternatives, that figure could virtually double again, to $650 billion in 2017, according to a new study by Financial Research Corporation (FRC).

Boston-Determining which asset classes and markets are currently attracting the most investor attention can be a daunting task for asset managers.

Since Hatteras Funds acquired the Alpha Hedged Strategies Fund in 2009 from AIP Mutual Funds, the fund family has grown to $700 million in assets under management.

OppenheimerFunds is prepping a diversified alternative fund that will bet on its own offerings.

Bank of America Merrill Lynch has promoted Keith Glenfield to head of the firm’s Alternative Investments Group, as the firm seeks to expand its growth when it comes to hedge funds, private equity and other alternative investments.

BOSTON - The membership of the National Investment Service Company Association voted to change the trade association's legal name to simply NICSA.

If you want to avoid personal liability in, for instance, properly valuing the assets in funds you manage, involve other persons in the process is the “simple answer,’’ legal analysts say.

Mutual fund companies are increasingly taking on the mindset of hedge funds, as they seek to offer clients access to alternative investments such as commodities or real estate and strategies like absolute return investing and combinations of going long on some stocks and selling others short.

Mutual fund companies are increasingly taking on the mindset of hedge funds, as they seek to offer clients access to alternative investments such as commodities or real estate and strategies like absolute return investing and combinations of going long on some stocks and selling others short.

Forward has added a global healthcare team to its ranks and plans to offer a long/short equity strategy investing globally across all healthcare sectors and market capitalizations, in early 2013.

FISCO Funds Management LLC, a U.S.-based family of alternative investment managers, and OP 8 Analytics is teaming up to launch a new investment management company, CARF Management.

FISCO Funds Management LLC, a U.S.-based family of alternative investment managers, and OP 8 Analytics is teaming up to launch a new investment management company, CARF Management.

PerTrac, a provider of analytics, reporting and communications software for investment professionals, released a new report this week detailing the success of hedge funds during years in which the entire sector posted negative performance results.

NEWS SCAN

'Tis the season when the leaves change, the National Football League is kicking its season into second gear, the Yankees are once again chasing another championship, and...yes, there's another mutual fund conference to attend.

Mutual fund companies are increasingly taking on the mindset of hedge funds, as they seek to offer clients access to alternative investments such as commodities or real estate and strategies like absolute return investing and combinations of going long on some stocks and selling others short.

Old Mutual Asset Management, the US-based global asset management business of Old Mutual plc, has agreed to sell five of its US affiliates to their current senior management teams.

Rising interest in hedge fund-like mutual funds among advisors and investors have driven service providers and fund managers alike to adjust their businesses to account for legal and tax ramifications of serving and operating alternative mutual funds.

More than one-third of the nation’s largest pension plans and institutional investors believe that traditional investing approaches will not be effective in 10 years.