The Dow Jones Credit Suisse Hedge Fund Index was up 1.80% at the end of April, with nine out of ten strategies posting positive performances for the month. Managed futures was the best performing sector, gaining 5.40% as managers capitalized on positive momentum in both equity and energy prices. Equity market neutral managers were up 3.37% as managers benefited from low stock correlations and a largely fundamental orientation throughout the month, while global macro hedge funds were up 2.46% in April, according to the index. Go to www.hedgeindex.com for further information.
A study by Sullivan, a New York communications strategy and design firm, provides insights on how investors feel about trust, loyalty and communication in regards to their advisors and what organizations can do to improve their relationships with investors. The study examines the "new conservatism" among investors, and shows a need for advisors' use of a "new language." Go to www.sullivannyc.com for further information.
Nearly 80% of private equity fund managers indicate that there will be more attractive investment opportunities in 2011 than in 2010, while 67% suggested that there will be increased IPO activity by private equity portfolio companies this year, according to a new study by Rothstein Kass, a wealth manager in Roseland, N.J. Go to www.rkco.com for further information.
Mark Kritzman, chief investment officer of Boston-based Windham Capital Management, LLC (www.windhamcapital.com), has received the Graham and Dodd Scroll Award from the Financial Analysts Journal for a jointly-authored article published in 2010, "In Defense of Optimization: The Fallacy of 1/N." The article disputes research showing that optimized portfolios provide no value without informed inputs. To see the entire article, click here.
The Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst Association (CAIA) in Amherst, Mass., has formed an alliance with the New York Hedge Fund Roundtable, a non-profit organization that promotes education and best practices in the hedge fund industry. Through this alliance, CAIA has become the official designation of the Roundtable, whose members will receive a 10% discount on standard exam registration fees for both levels of the CAIA exams. Go to www.caia.org and www.newyorkhedgefundroundtable.org for further information.
Events
"Sustaining Your Small Family Office: Essential Tools for Long-Term Success," the second in the Family Office Exchange's sustainability workshop series (attending the first is not a prerequisite) for owners and leaders of offices with ten or fewer employees, will be held May 31 and June 1 in Chicago. For further information go to www.foxexchange.com.
J.P. Morgan China Conference 2011 will be held June 1-3 at the Grand Hyatt Beijing Hotel in Beijing, China. For further information e-mail [email protected].
The 2011 NAREIT Investor Forum will be held June 7-9 at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City. Go to www.reit.com for further information.
The inaugural Invest Caribbean 2011 Power Breakfast will be held June 9 at the New York Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City. Go to on investcaribbeannow.com for further information.
The First Annual Social Investment Forum Conference will be held June 9-10 at The Fairmont Hotel in Washington, D.C. The event is designed for leaders of the sustainable and socially responsible investing community. Click here conference information.