Explore numerous types of alternative assets and the investment strategies behind them. You’ll learn about the innovative forms of investments such as start-ups, venture capital (VCs), and leveraged buyouts (LBOs), which often discussed in everyday financial news. While alternative assets are a subset of an existing asset class, they are rather different and hence their understanding would benefit both strategic and tactical asset allocations conducted by either dividual or institutional investors in their pursuit of portfolio diversification. Providing you with both qualitative and technical analyses within a broader portfolio management context, this module will expand your knowledge beyond traditional assets investing and hence expose you to the possibility of new exciting career pathways such as hedge funds and private equity firms.
Lecture 16, Seminar 8, PC Lab 16
Online test (45 minutes) worth 20%.
Online test (45 minutes) worth 20%.
Individual Report (2500 words) worth 60%.
Reassessment Method: 100% Written Assessment – Individual Report – 2,500 words
On successfully completing the module, students will be able to:
Critically assess the hedge fund industry, its structure, and its approaches to operations as well as key trading strategies to identify any trading signals.
Explain how various commodity markets operate and know the potential benefits of commodity investments including their links to hedging and diversification.
Systematically apply knowledge of real estate investments and identify the potential to enhance portfolio investment strategies and manage the associated risk.
Critically evaluate private equity methods of investments, their compensation schemes, their risks, and potential returns of such investment strategies including venture capital and leveraged buyouts.
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