AssetPage Ranks the Best and Worst Performing Asset Classes for 2005
Houston, TX (ContentDesk) January 6, 2006 -- Of the 32 asset classes tracked by AssetPage" a financial publisher specializing in asset class analytics, international emerging market stocks posted a leading 32.6% return in 2005, with almost two-thirds of that return coming in a blistering third quarter performance.
Emerging market stocks strong first place finish was not surprising since the asset class had performed well all year. Commodities, precious metals (gold), REITs, and international developed markets rounded out the top five best performing asset classes for 2005. In 2005, foreign stocks and alternative asset classes were the big stories as investors looked for returns other than in the idle U.S. stock market, according to Steven Sheldon, AssetPages Director of Research. Mid cap stocks were the only traditional asset class to post double-digit returns in 2005, Sheldon continued.
Fixed income asset classes performed the worst in 2005 with short term municipal and U.S. Treasury bond funds logging the weakest results. The Feds 13 straight interest rate hikes took a toll on fixed income investors in 2005, Sheldon said. Floating rate and emerging market bonds were exceptions. International unhedged bonds suffered as the U.S.
unexpectedly strengthened during the year.Of note, hedge funds which have garnered so much media attention struggled in 2005, with a widely-followed hedge fund index posting meager returns for the year.The AssetPage Asset Class Ranking identifies the top performing investment areas each quarter from among a list of the 32 most widely recognized asset classes. The ranked asset classes include core and alternative asset classes such as U.S. and international equities, bonds, cash, real estate, precious metals, and hedge funds.About AssetPage LLCAssetPage LLC is a financial publisher specializing in asset class analytics. AssetPages flagship report is the Asset Class Tracker, a subscription-based report that provides extensive coverage of 32 core, alternative and supporting asset classes. The companys customers include financial advisers, money managers, and individual investors.????????
Contact Information:Mike Haney, AssetPage LLCwww.AssetPage.com888-679-7288713-893-6101 Fax.
Energy Hedge Fund Center Now Tracking 500 Hedge Funds in Energy & Environment
Houston, TX; New York, NY (ContentDesk) May 15, 2006 -- The Energy Hedge Fund Center, LLC (EHFC, www.energyhedgefunds.com) is now tracking over 500 hedge funds that have a substantial energy or environmental content in its Directory of Energy Hedge Funds. The number of energy hedge funds has steadily grown over the last 24-months as investor appetite for commodities generally and energy commodities specifically, has soared. The majority of energy hedge funds are either commodity trading or equity long/short funds with the most recent growth in commodity trading funds taking place in Europe. Over 5-percent of the hedge fund universe now has a good deal of exposure to energy via commodities, equities and debt, said Dr. Gary M. Vasey, Co-Principal of the Energy Hedge Fund Center LLC.
Many other hedge funds also have some energy exposure today marking the transition of energy from a ...
Energy Hedge Fund Center Now Tracking 500 Hedge Funds in Energy & Environment
Hedge funds > Energy Hedge Fund Center Now Tracking 500 Hedge Funds in Energy & Environment
Hedge Fund Advertising
HEDGE FUND ADVERTISING Have you seen all those big full page adsfor hedge funds in the Wall Street Journal, theFinancial Times, Investors Business Daily? Youhaven't. Maybe they are being drowned out by theregular mutual funds who continually tell youhow great they are. Shucks! I forgot. Hedge funds are not allowed to advertise. I wonder why.
Maybe they thinkthat their potential customers are too dumb toknow that hedge funds are a poor investment. Could be. The Securities and Exchange Commissionis trying to protect investors ? I think? To be able to buy into a hedge fund thesmallest investor must have a net worth of$1,000,000 and an income of more than $200,000per year. Maybe the SEC doesn't think thesefolks are bright enough to know a good thingwhen they see it. There are other groups that are major investors with the hedge funds.
Literally billionsof dollars are invested by university endowments,charitable trusts, state and corporate pensionplans. Could it be that they...
Hedge Fund Advertising
Hedge funds > Hedge Fund Advertising
Strategic Capital Advisors, LLC, Brokers Three Key Acquisitions for Pioneer Investment Management, Inc.
Strategic Capital Advisors, LLC, led by founder Arthur J. Drago, brokered three strategic deals for Boston-based Pioneer Investment Management, Inc. in 2004, bringing the Pioneer family of funds approximately $3.3 billion in assets and the adoption of 13 funds inclusive.The latest transaction was Pioneer's $3.1 billion acquisition of 22 Safeco (Nasdaq: SAFC) mutual funds from the Seattle-based insurance company. Seven of these funds were reorganized as Pioneer funds; fifteen were merged into existing Pioneer funds. Earlier in the year, two Oak Ridge (Oak Ridge Investments, LLC, Chicago) equity funds with a total of $25 million in assets were reorganized as Pioneer Oak Ridge funds, and four Papp (L.
Roy Papp & Associates, LLP, Phoenix, AZ) equity funds with a total of $153 million in assets were reorganized as Pioneer Papp funds.
"Strategic Capital Advisors took the extra time to understand our company and our posture," noted Steven Graziano, Pioneer's Executive Vice President,...
Hedge funds > Strategic Capital Advisors, LLC, Brokers Three Key Acquisitions for Pioneer Investment Management, Inc.
Advice for international investors on how to safeguard their profits
What are the risks?Today, investors are increasingly turning to global markets to find opportunities for profit, giving urgency to the issue of protecting returns from foreign exchange risk. While there are many excellent investment opportunities to be found all over the world, volatility in the currency markets can and does affect the profitability of these investments. An understanding of how currency rate movements can affect profits can help investors protect their bottom line from this uncertainty.A vivid example of how currency volatility can impact profits occurred in 2004. When the US stock market rallied, investors from Europe converted their euros into dollars and sent them to America to take advantage of these opportunities. Even though there was a 30% gain in the US stock market that year, it was accompanied by a 22% decline in the value of the dollar.
Although the European investors had earned substantial returns on their stock investments, their profits were reduced...
Advice for international investors on how to safeguard their profits
Hedge funds > Advice for international investors on how to safeguard their profits
Platinum Funding Group Strengthens Its Factoring Offerings to Hedge Fund and Venture Capital Communities
New York, NY (ContentDesk) June 26, 2006 -- Platinum Funding Group announced the expansion of its service offering to hedge funds, venture capital firms and boutique investment banks by appointing two new business development professionals at the companys headquarter in New York City.