A alternative route to improved performance

In the pursuit of diversification, investors are increasingly turning to alternative assets

When something is referred to as an alternative, investors can bet it is not going to stay that way for long. In 2007, the phrase 'alternative assets' came to the fore - no longer was it confined to a niche on the landscape, and it seemed everyone wanted a piece of the action, irrespective of what that action might be. Alternative assets broadly refers to assets that include private equity, infrastructure, hedge funds, commodities, currencies and structured credit. Convertible bonds are sometimes included. But what do they offer, and what can such a strategy deliver in terms of impact on ...