Managing Risk In Alternative Investment Strategies

The global markets continue to be volatile and the overall economy remains uncertain. In this environment, it's more important than ever to get familiar with risk management principles and seek out alternative investment strategies carefully to maintain and grow your capital. Written by Raghurami Reddy Etukuru, MBA, CAIA, FRM, PRM, this guidebook introduces you to various alternative investments and risk management concepts in straightforward language. For instance, hedge funds are often seen as risky investments, but they actually provide greater diversification than traditional common stocks. If you engage in the proper hedge fund strategy, you'll also find less volatility. In addition to hedge funds, you will find information and guidance on various phases of due diligence; risk metrics, quantitative models and exotic options; commodities, managed futures, private equities, and real estate; brokers, auditors, and legal counsel. Get the information you need to make informed decisions about your own finances. Whether you are a businessperson, student, analyst it's imperative for you to develop a deeper understanding of Alternative Investment Strategies and Risk Management.

"Lars Jaeger is to be congratulated for taking the mystique out of alternative investment strategies and putting sound risk management methodology into its place. I am convinced that this book will become the prime reference on AIS for many years to come." Paul Embrechts, Professor of Insurance Mathematics, ETH Zurich "More and more investment professionals see alternative investment strategies as a new paradigm in asset management. However, press coverage suggests that the hedge funds bubble has not yet burst. The hedge fund area has traditionally been shrouded in myth and misrepresentation. Managing Risk in Alternative Investment Strategies provides what is desperately needed: transparency." Alexander M. Ineichen, CFA, Managing Director, UBS Warburg, London "The hedge fund industry is attracting more and more interest after the disappointing performance of financial markets. Lars Jaeger's book clearly and concisely presents the issues and sheds much needed light on this industry. His rigorous description of the most advanced risk management techniques and their application to the hedge funds makes it an indispensable tool for professional investors who want to venture in this field." Dr. Michel M. Dacorogna, Manager Financial Analysis and Risk Modeling, Converium Ltd "Risk management and transparency have become key issues for portfolio managers and investors interested in alternative investment strategies. Lars Jaeger finally gives a much needed, clear and practical, treatment on risk management principles for hedge funds and managed futures. This book is a must read for anyone interested in this rapidly growing investment area" Dr. Dan Rosen, VP Research and New Solutions, Algorithmics Alternative Investment Strategies, such as hedge funds, can enhance returns and reduce risk of a global investment portfolio. However, managing their ¿risk dimension¿ is critical to success. Managing Risk in Alternative Investment Strategies provides insight into the latest thinking about hedge funds and hedge fund risk management, elaborating on ways to approach some of the main problems and obstacles of this new investment class.

This book discusses scenarios for risk management and developing global investment strategies. What are the chances that various future events will occur over time and how should these events and probable occurrence influence investment decisions? Assessing all possible outcomes is fundamental to risk management, financial engineering and investment and hedge fund strategies. A careful consideration of future scenarios will lead to better investment decisions and avoid financial disasters. The book presents tools and case studies around the world for analyzing a wide variety of investment strategies, building scenarios to optimize returns.

"Alternative investments have become the 'brooding omnipresence' of modern finance. As such, they are at the core of any significant discussion relating to asset allocation, risk management, and portfolio design. The topics outlined and discussed in this text provide a meaningful stop on the road toward understanding the complexities and rewards of these instruments." —Garry Crowder, Director, Institute for Alternative Investment Education and Research Sponsored by the CAIA Association, the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) program consists of a two-tier exam process (Level I and Level II) through which you may earn the CAIA charter. The Level I exam challenges your understanding of the alternative investment market's tools and terms, and tests your knowledge of various trading strategies and performance measurements. The Level II exam assesses how you would apply the knowledge and analytics learned in Level I within an asset allocation framework. CAIA Level II: Advanced Core Topics in Alternative Investments contains virtually all of the material on alternative investments that potential Level II candidates would need to know as they prepare for the exam—a multifaceted assembly of questions and problem-solving tasks. Since the tools and terms introduced in Level I provide the basis for the second level of this program, the information found here will continue to focus on alternative investments—hedge funds, private equity, commodities and managed futures, and credit derivatives—but in greater depth and in the context of risk management and asset allocation. Whether you're a seasoned professional looking to explore new areas within the alternative investment arena or a new industry participant seeking to establish a solid understanding of alternative investments, CAIA Level II: Advanced Core Topics in Alternative Investments is the best way to achieve these goals, and the smartest way to prepare for such a demanding exam. Take your first steps toward attaining the CAIA charter by picking up CAIA Level I: An Introduction to Core Topics in Alternative Investments.

Alternative Investments: A Primer for Investment Professionals provides an overview of alternative investments for institutional asset allocators and other overseers of portfolios containing both traditional and alternative assets. It is designed for those with substantial experience regarding traditional investments in stocks and bonds but limited familiarity regarding alternative assets, alternative strategies, and alternative portfolio management. The primer categorizes alternative assets into four groups: hedge funds, real assets, private equity, and structured products/derivatives. Real assets include vacant land, farmland, timber, infrastructure, intellectual property, commodities, and private real estate. For each group, the primer provides essential information about the characteristics, challenges, and purposes of these institutional-quality alternative assets in the context of a well-diversified institutional portfolio. Other topics addressed by this primer include tail risk, due diligence of the investment process and operations, measurement and management of risks and returns, setting return expectations, and portfolio construction. The primer concludes with a chapter on the case for investing in alternatives.

A well-rounded hedge fund guide for the serious financial professional Alternative investment strategies-hedge funds in particular-have experienced a significant resurgence recently, largely in response to the dramatic downturn of the global equity markets. In response to this explosion in popularity, this book focuses on many of the best moneymaking strategies related to these alternative investment vehicles. IMCA (The Investment Management Consultants Association) is a professional association established in 1985, representing the investment consulting profession in the U.S. and Canada. Kenneth S. Phillips is a member of the IMCA Advisory Council and Managing Principal of Capital Partners, LLC. Ron Surz, CIMA, is a member of the IMCA Board of Directors and the President of PPCA Inc.

This book provides a cutting edge introduction to market risk management for Hedge Funds, Hedge Funds of Funds, and the numerous new indices and clones launching coming to market on a near daily basis. It will present the fundamentals of quantitative risk measures by analysing the range of Value-at-Risk (VaR) models used today, addressing the robustness of each model, and looking at new risk measures available to more effectively manage risk in a hedge fund portfolio. The book begins by analysing the current state of the hedge fund industry - at the ongoing institutionalisation of the market, and at its latest developments. It then moves on to examine the range of risks, risk controls, and risk management strategies currently employed by practitioners, and focuses on particular risks embedded in the more classic investment strategies such as Long/Short, Convertible Arbitrage, Fixed Income Arbitrage, Short selling and risk arbitrage. Addressed along side these are other risks common to hedge funds, including liquidity risk, leverage risk and counterparty risk. The book then moves on to examine more closely two models which provide the underpinning for market risk management in investment today - Style Value-at-Risk and Implicit Value-at-Risk. As well as full quantitative analysis and backtesting of each methodology, the authors go on to propose a new style model for style and implicit Var, complete with analysis, real life examples and backtesting. The authors then go on to discuss annualisation issues and risk return before moving on to propose a new model based on the authors own Best Choice Implicit VaR approach, incorporating quantitative analysis, market results and backtesting and also its potential for new hedge fund clone products. This book is the only guide to VaR for Hedge Funds and will prove to be an invaluable resource as we embark into an era of increasing volatility and uncertainty.

A feasible asset allocation framework for the post 2008 financial world Asset allocation has long been a cornerstone of prudent investment management; however, traditional allocation plans failed investors miserably in 2008. Asset allocation still remains an essential part of the investment arena, and through a new approach, you'll discover how to make it work. In The New Science of Asset Allocation, authors Thomas Schneeweis, Garry Crowder, and Hossein Kazemi first explore the myths that plague this field then quickly move on to examine how the practice of asset allocation has failed in recent years. They then propose new allocation models that employ liquidity, transparency, and real risk controls across multiple asset classes. Outlines a new approach to asset allocation in a post-2008 world, where risk seems hidden The "great manager" problem is examined with solutions on how to capture manager alpha while limiting downside risk A complete case study is presented that allocates for beta and alpha Written by an experienced team of industry leaders and academic experts, The New Science of Asset Allocation explains how you can effectively apply this approach to a financial world that continues to change.