Cheeseman predicts further hedge fund covergence

F&C head of retail multi-management Dean Cheeseman believes continued hedge fund convergence into the retail space will dominate 2010's product launches.

Cheeseman says a number of hedge fund groups have begun to launch open-ended Ucits III vehicles, which provides retail investors with access to strategies previously only opened to professional investors. "The emerging presence of hedge fund groups with proven competence in adding value through long and short trades, derivatives and with the effective risk management tools to manage such strategies is a welcome development," Cheeseman says. "Historically retail investors have been very heavily exposed to general market movements and therefore the inclusion of some of these funds withi...