...Firstname Lastname Instructor’s Name Course Number 21 July 2012 Investment Management Investment Fundamentals Investment is the process of employing saved money in financial institutions with the hope of gaining returns in the future. Investment management is the process of managing the money employed in financial institutions with the hope of gaining positive returns. The financial institutions are catalogued in a case known as an investment portfolio. An individual with saved money may opt to invest it in financial institutions as a way of adding value to the money. Investing for individuals involves identifying the sources of income for investment such as savings and loans from others. The individual then comes up with investment objectives that will guide his investment decisions. After the funds have been secured, the investor does a market analysis to determine which the best investment opportunities available are for him. A market analysis may be done through a “bottom top” approach or a “top bottom” approach. The “top bottom approach” starts from a macroeconomic level of the market and works downwards towards the different service sectors and industries, finishing with the specific corporate institutions and their portfolio. Once at the corporate level, the investor can decide which investments will afford better returns in the long run (Klammer 36). A competitive analysis is done by the potential investor to determine how his options stand against the other investors...
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...------------------------------------------------- Latest version: February 7, 2016 (changes from prior version shown in red) ORF 570 Special Topics in Statistics and Operations Research Course topic: Quantitative Asset Management Transcript title: Special Topics in Statistics and Operations/Quantitative Asset Management Instructor: Frank J. Fabozzi, Ph.D., CFA, Visiting Professor, ORFE Office: 207 in ORFE Building (office shared with Professor Mulvey) Office hours: 4-6pm (this time slot will also be used for presentations on special topics) Classroom: Friend 006 Course description: This course covers asset management focusing on quantitative models applied to equities and bonds (with emphasis on mortgage-backed securities). The quantitative models discussed are asset allocation models and portfolio construction models that include optimization models (mean-variance framework and extensions such as robust portfolio optimization), multi-factor risk models, risk control models, and transaction cost forecasting models. Return attribution models for performance evaluation will be covered. Model risk and model/strategy backtesting will be highlighted. Guest speakers from quantitative asset management firms are scheduled. Determination of final grade: Final exam ………………………………. 40% Design project …………………………… 25% Term paper ………………………………. 25% Problem sets ……………………………… 10% Course material and reading assignments: No textbook is required for the book. Instead...
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...CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY John Molson School of Business - Department of Finance Portfolio Management - FINA 411/2/A, C Course Outline – Fall 2014 Instructor: Dr. Abraham I. Brodt Office: MB 12.215 Tel: 848-2424-2997 Fax: 848-4500 E-mail: ABrodt@jmsb.concordia.ca [SUBJECT: FINA 411 …….] Classes: FINA 411/2A Mondays 11:45 - 14:30 [MB1.437] FINA 411/2C Wednesdays 11:45 - 14:30 [MB5.255] Office Hours: Mondays and Wednesdays 15:30 -- 16:30 [Please e-mail me first to confirm] and by appointment COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course focuses on modern investment theory and its application to the management of entire portfolios. It will consist of lectures, discussions of cases and articles, and video presentations. Topics include: a) construction of optimal asset portfolios using techniques such as the single index model, b) extensions of the capital asset pricing model: theory and tests; example, the zero-beta model, c) criteria for evaluation of investment performance, d) active vs. passive portfolio management, e) investment strategies. The Formula Growth Investment Centre Lab will be used to demonstrate the use of specialized investment software. Computer exercises are assigned to illustrate the application of the theory. Prerequisites: FINA 380 or 385; FINA 390 or 395. LEARNING OBJECTIVES To understand the theory and practice of Portfolio Management for Individuals and Institutions, e.g. Endowments, Mutual Funds, Pension Plans, etc. ...
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...Preliminary and incomplete Do not quote without authors’ permission How Do Venture Capitalists Choose Investments? by Steven N. Kaplan and Per Strömberg* First Draft: August 2000 This Draft: August 2000 Abstract In this paper, we consider how venture capitalists (VCs) choose or screen their investments by studying the contemporaneous investment analyses produced by 10 venture capital firms for investments in 42 portfolio companies. Consistent with most academic and anecdotal accounts, we find that it is common for VCs to consider explicitly the attractiveness of the opportunity – the market size, the strategy, the technology, customer adoption, and competition – the management team, and the deal terms. We also provide evidence on how the venture capitalists expect to monitor those investments. In at least half of the investments, the VC expects to play an important role in recruiting management. Finally, we complement the investment analyses with information from the financial contracts for the investments and consider the relation of the analyses with the contractual terms and with subsequent performance. In both analyses, the evidence suggests that the VC’s initial appraisal of the management team is important. Stronger management teams obtain more attractive contracts and are more likely to take their companies public. G24: Investment banking; Venture Capital; Brokerage G32: Financing policy; Capital and ownership structure * Graduate School of Business...
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...Gregory Connor and Mason Woo An Introduction to Hedge Funds Introductory Guide 1 Introduction International Asset Management (‘IAM’) is the proud sponsor of the IAM Hedge Fund Research Programme of the Financial Markets Group. Within this programme the LSE team undertakes independent research into aspects of the hedge fund industry. It is hoped that the results of this research will give greater understanding about this growing area of financial innovation. This research paper gives a broad introduction to the hedge fund industry, the historical background to the evolution of hedge funds, the fund of funds industry and provides an explanation of some of the terminology used within this area. As an overview of the industry the document does not attempt to address the use of hedge funds within the broader context of portfolio management such as organisational risk or other areas of concern for the investor. This is a nontechnical paper and as such is intended for students or practitioners seeking a general introduction and reference tool. It is not a survey of the research literature and citations are kept to a minimum. If you wish to keep updated on the IAM Hedge Fund Research Programme please let us know. If you have any questions please contact IAM at our London office or visit our website: 34 Sackville Street London W1S 3EF Tel. +44 (0)20 7734 8488 www.iam.uk.com For information about the research activities of the Financial Markets Group see the following page...
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...Summary of Harvard Management Company (2010) By: Satrio Abi and Yanuar Budi Baskoro * Harvard Management Company Introduction: Harvard Management Company is a company which built by Harvard University itself. That means HMC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Harvard University. The company built for managing the financial matter and development of the university. Because the company is wholly owned by Harvard University, the Directors of HMC is directly choosen by President and Fellow of Harvard College. The function of HMC is for managing University’s financing especially endowment. Endowment become the important income for HMC. The main job of HMC is to earn money for the endowment. The management do some investment to get the endowment funds. They have the unique ways to do the investment which is using the Hybrid Theory. This case is focusing on the endowment. * Endowment: Why endowment become so important? Because the endowment fund is used for developing the university. The fund is for establishing new research program, creating more scholarship for student and buy some new art and collection. The fund also for increasing financial aid, reducing tuition fee for students and improve facilities for learning such as hiring new profesional academic intiatives or creating new laboratorium for research. The total value of endowment for 1990 until 2009 is increased continuosly. The total value in 1990 is $4.7 billion, in 1995 is $7 billion, in 2000 is $18.3 billion...
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...T H E J O U R N A L THEORY & PRACTICE FOR FUND MANAGERS O F FALL 2013 Volume 22 Number 3 RISKBASED PORTFOLIOS special section The Voices of Influence | iijournals.com Pursuing the Low Volatility Equity Anomaly: Strategic Allocation or Active Decision? ERIK KNUTZEN ERIK K NUTZEN is the chief investment officer at NEPC LLC in Cambridge, MA. eknutzen@nepc.com FALL 2013 JOI-KNUTZEN.indd 75 I n the past several years, asset managers have built investment strategies based on historical evidence that lower volatility stocks earn superior risk-adjusted returns. These approaches are being called low volatility, managed volatility, minimum variance, or similar names. They seek to exploit what has been identified in studies by academics and practitioners alike as an equity pricing anomaly. This anomaly joins previously identified persistent stock market inefficiencies associated with low price-tobook and smaller company shares. This article evaluates the low volatility anomaly, its potential causes, whether it is likely to persist, and the role, if any, of low volatility equity investing in long-term investment programs. Based on historical information, we conclude that the low volatility equity anomaly appears to exist and can be explained by certain behavioral and structural biases of investors. But its continued existence into the future is less certain. We also observe that even well-documented anomalies experience multi-year...
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...Beta Management Company | | |Investment Management case study | Table of contents Backgrounds……………………………………………………….……1 Strategies………………………………………………………………...1 Background of California R.E.I.T and Brown Group Inc……………2 Return and risk…………………………………………………….....…2 Summary………………………………………………………………...4 Appendix………………………………………………………………...5 Background: Beta Management Company is a small investment management company based in a Boston suburb founded in 1988. As the company developed, they had roughly 25 million dollars in the 1991. The goal of the company is to enhance returns but reduce risks for clients via market timing. Currently, the company’s funds were invested into the Vanguard 500, an S&P 500 no-load and low-expense index funds (with the reminder in money market instruments). As time goes by, Sarah Wolfe who is the founder of this company think about increasing her equity exposure to 80% with the purchase of individual stock. Strategies: Firstly, Sarah Wolfe uses a market timing strategy based on two portfolios: the Vanguard Index and money market. In order to obtain the capital gains, once the company predicts the market value will rise, it will transfer its assets from the money market to the Index. The limit will up to a maximum 99% of total assets. On the other hand when the company expects the market value will decrease, it...
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...has the Investment Office selected, compensated, and controlled private equity fund managers? What explains the differences between their strategy in private equity with that in other asset classes (e.g., real estate)? As for private equity asset allocation the Investment Office focused on finding external "value-added investors" with the sterling capability to build better businesses not only financially but mainly operationally. They believed this strategy led to enhancing returns independently of the market downturns. Thus, a limited number of long-standing partnerships were created - exclusively with partners aligned with the generalized investment policies of the Investment Office - with "over 90% of the portfolio invested in highly prestigious funds sponsored by the general partners of the university's group". Yale sought for compensation to be as linked as possible with investment performance rather than based in high fixed fees. With this strategy they intended for private equity funds managers' to be more motivated and to align its objectives with theirs. On the other side equity firms were given a considerable amount of flexibility on their investment decisions. The control was done mainly in the selection stage where Yale guaranteed that its and the firms' objectives were as aligned as possible and so almost no deals were performed with large financial institutions, avoiding "conflicts of interests and lack of incentives". The Investment Office portfolio is constituted...
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...HARVARD MANAGEMENT COMPANY Answer 1: The general objective of HMC was to try to preserve the real value of the endowment and its income distribution in perpetuity. In the last years the endowment spending was on average 4.6%, annual gifts averaged about 1.5%, and Harvard expenses continued to grow at a rate of 3% above CPI. If in the long run the endowment was able to earn a 6% to 6.5% average return over the CPI inflation rate the university could spend 4.5% to 5% of the endowment. The 6.25% is the average of the real minimum expected returns (6% and 6.5%) that HMC could earn to meet the annual spending. Answer 2: The Policy Portfolio is a long term asset mix that was designed to balance HMC’s aversion to risk against its needs for long-term endowment returns. It is the portfolio that Harvard should maintain under neutral conditions. It had a smaller weighting in US and foreign stocks and a larger weighting in cash and private investments than other managed funds of the time. It is based on long term return and risk assumptions to meet Harvard’s return goals, risk tolerance, and long term scenario. The Policy Portfolio specified neutral weighting for each asset class, but HMC could deviate from these weights by moving the asset class weight away from policy in anticipation of short-term moves. HMC was given a minimum and maximum range for each asset class within which they could move without prior consultation with the HMC Board. From our point of view, the Policy Portfolio...
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...BEST PRACTICES FOR THE HEDGE FUND INDUSTRY ~~~~~ REPORT OF THE ASSET MANAGERS’ COMMITTEE TO THE PRESIDENT’S WORKING GROUP ON FINANCIAL MARKETS January 15, 2009 * * * THE ASSET MANAGERS’ COMMITTEE Eric Mindich, Chair (Eton Park Capital Management) Anne Casscells (Aetos Capital, LLC) Marc Lasry (Avenue Capital Group) William Von Mueffling (Cantillon Capital Management) Anne Dinning (D. E. Shaw & Co., L.P.) Jonathon S. Jacobson (Highfields Capital Management) James S. Chanos (Kynikos Associates LP) Daniel S. Och (Och-Ziff Capital Management) Daniel H. Stern (Reservoir Capital Group) Edward Mulé (Silver Point Capital, L.P.) COUNSEL TO THE ASSET MANAGERS’ COMMITTEE Sullivan & Cromwell LLP Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP * * * Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................... i BEST PRACTICES ...........................................................................................................1 Disclosure and Investor Protection ..................................................................................1 I. II. Disclosure of Material Information to Investors ...................................................1 Ongoing Information Provided to Investors..........................................................5 A. B. V. I. II. Side Letters....................................................................................................10 Parallel Managed Accounts...
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...Return Fixed Income: unlocking the potential of a rapidly-changing bond market Pictet Asset Management May 2014 For professional investors only Overview From 16 to 9. Over the past decade, the number of sovereign borrowers rated triple-A by Standard and Poor's has almost halved. There is probably no clearer testament to the damage caused by the financial crisis. But it is not the only momentous change facing fixed income investors. In another break with the past, policymakers in the developed world no longer worry about the moral hazard of intervening in the capital markets. Driving down real interest rates close to zero has been the policy of choice in the US, UK and Japan, while in the euro zone it has become de rigueur to encourage banks to buy the bonds of those governments with the weakest credit credentials. If dealing with unorthodox monetary and fiscal policies is not challenging enough for fixed income investors, traditional bond benchmarks – and the strategies tied to them – do not help matters. In fact, they often amplify risks. Because these indices are capitalisation- or, perhaps more accurately, liability-weighted, they expose investors to the governments and corporations that issue the most debt. This not only leaves participants vulnerable to the potentially unfavourable shifts in borrower creditworthiness, it also restricts their access to more attractive investment opportunities elsewhere. The bond investor’s plight is further complicated by a recent deterioration...
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...| | | |Equivalent Modules Master List |Equivalent courses offered at Aalto University, School Of Economics. | | | | | |Courses offered are subject to changes. | | |Updated information on the courses will be sent to successful candidates by Aalto | | |University, School Of Economics. | | | | | |*The same course can be transferred only as 1 course. | |First Level Modules | | |ACC1006 Accounting Information Systems |International...
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...Portfolio Management Project FNAN 311-003 Spring 2016 FNAN 311 is designed to provide students with an introduction to modern portfolio management and asset valuation. Through this course, students will gain a systematic understanding of financial markets, the various types of financial instruments, and the main investment theories. The group project provides students an opportunity to apply modern investment strategies and risk management tools to near real-world portfolio management without real-world risk. Students are required to design a trading strategy (including security selection), implement the strategy (execute the trades), and evaluate the performance of the portfolio. The trading platform for the project is the Virtual Stock Exchange at http://www.marketwatch.com/game/ (or www.marketwatch.com/game/patriotfinance2016). Password: patriotFinance2016. The Scenario You are beginning your new job with Patriot Investment Strategies, a mutual fund family managing approximately $50 billion in assets. Patriot has a variety of funds with various objectives. You and two or three of your associates, as a group, have been asked by management to create and manage a new fund based on your own ideas, benchmarking the performance of the fund against an existing index. You have learned that the other forty new associates at Patriot have received similar assignments, and that the performance of each fund will be evaluated by management six weeks after the inception of each fund...
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...benefits liabilities Achieve a certain rate of return on the current pension assets for a given level of risk As a government pension plan, the fund has some understandable constraints, which are: Need to invest in mature and stable large companies Only a certain percentage of the fund could be invested in equities, meant to grow by +10% every year up to 40% The remainder (up to 60%) to be invested in bonds Their objective of achieving a certain rate of return is a necessary step to ensure the pension fund is able to meet its future pension liabilities. However, having unrealistic expectations can prove to be harmful where in their case a 1.5% discrepancy in expectations had led to a 120% increase in unfunded liability! The investment constraint of having a pension fund made up majority of bonds can prove to be problematic. While it is true that bonds provide a steady income in terms of coupon plus the opportunity for capital appreciation; the fact that bond prices are inversely proportional to interest rates prove to be a risk for pension funds. Indeed, that is the case for South Carolina pension fund where in April 1996 the fund has lost $400mln due to a rise in interest rates. Also their constraint of investing in mature and stable companies have the benefit of earning steady dividends and a lower level of risk (Claus and Thomas, 2001). But these companies have limited growth potential hence returns tend to be low and the state may find that they are not being...
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