Special Reports

Market commentary and discussion on the merits and limitations of alternative Ucits funds continue to generate considerable interest for hedge fund managers and their investors. »

Due to the combination of bruising market losses, high correlation among asset classes, unexpected illiquidity and epic scandals, the investment management industry faces a restless, empowered investor base. »

Nearly two years after the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers brought home to the global financial industry the seriousness of the crisis that unfolded from the collapse of the US sub-prime mortgage market, the shape of the regulatory environment drawn up as a response to the past three years of turbulence is now taking shape, for better or worse. A major step came on July 21 with the signing into US law of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. »

 PRO   * Tried and tested structure with strong global brand * Regulation, transparency and liquidity meet investor concerns »

 There are questions about their suitability for retail investment, their ability to deliver long-term performance has yet to be proven, and Europe’s regulators could yet seek to rein in »

 Even as the growth of ‘Newcits’ funds in the marketplace accelerates, concern has been growing about their limitations and potential dangers. »

Latency: A measure of delay. In a market where speed is of the essence, the spotlight falls on the issue of latency. Latency is the time it takes to get a deal done, cancel an order or know what is happening in the market. »

It is clear from conversations with a broad range of market participants that inherent latency is a problem for active market participants on current FX trading systems. »

Network latency is the time needed to effect a communication between two network nodes. »

Much has been made of dark pools of liquidity in the equity market at present. These are financial markets not available or visible to the general public - essentially 'non-displayed' liquidity. »