Alternative Investments

• Articles

  • The New Active Decision in Beta Management (June 2013)

    Investors increasingly are widening their options as they direct their portfolio allocations.

  • Patience Brings Rewards for Private Equity Investors (2012 Issue 3)

    Investors can trade illiquidity for greater diversification and the potential to earn higher returns.

  • Building Out Infrastructue Allocations (October 2012)

    Global listed securities offer institutional investors attractive yield and inflation-protection characteristics.

  • Exploring Secular Themes (2012 Issue 3)

    Investors are examining secular themes in an attempt to find new sources of return, while further diversifying their portfolios.

  • Managing Equity Risk in Volatile Markets (2012 Issue 1)

    Long/short equity strategies seek to offer investors access to the upside of equity markets — with less volatility and lower drawdown risk.

  • Responsible Investing Goes Mainstream (2012 Issue 1)

    Appreciation for responsible investing grows as it is integrate into more traditional investment portfolios.

  • Pension Plans Shouldn’t Ignore Alternative Investments (Fall 2011)

    Lack of expertise or familiarity with nontraditional assets does not negate fiduciary responsibility.

  • Global Megatrends (Winter 2011)
  • Managing Liquidity in the Private Equity Market (Spring 2010)

    Investors look to better understand capital calls and distributions.

  • Legislating Transparency (Spring 2010 )

    Global efforts to legislate the transparency of investment strategies and vehicles.

  • Viewing Alternatives Through the Appropriate Lens (Spring 2009)

    Proper perspective helps investors integrate alternatives into their portfolios.

  • The Right Time for Global Real Estate? (October 2008)

    Overseas opportunities could provide enhanced returns, reduced risk.

  • The Outlook for Private Equity (October 2008)

    Liquidity crunch, economic concerns don’t dampen investor interest.

  • Greater Acceptance of ‘Alternative’ Investments (October 2007)

    Investors adopt outcome-oriented strategies for their investment programs.

  • Exploring New Horizons (October 2007)

    Large foundations and endowments reap the benefits of alternative investing.

  • Currency as an Asset Class (April 2007)

    As investors look beyond traditional hedging opportunities, currency trading grows into a stand-alone asset class.

  • Exploring the Hedge Fund Universe (April 2007)

    With an increasingly crowded marketplace, the challenge in hedge fund investing will be identifying new market inefficiencies.

  • Perspectives on Private Equity (October 2006)

    Successfully navigating the private equity waters takes persistence, perseverance and patience.

  • Private Equity in the Public Eye (July 2006)

    Private equity funds are coming off of a banner year. Institutional investors are taking a look at how they can safeguard their private equity portfolios.

• White Papers

  • Five-Year Outlook: 2012 Edition (October 2012)

    Northern Trust's Capital Market Assumptions working group releases risk-return assumptions for key asset classes.

  • Gaining Exposure to Infrastructure (September 2012)

    Listed infrastructure may offer attractive cash flows, inflation protection, dividend yields.

  • Emerging Markets Debt Offers Investment Opportunities (2012 Issue 1)

    Northern Trust white paper explains the benefits of the asset class, including attractive yields and absolute returns as well as appealing diversification and risk characteristics.

  • 4Q 2010 Global Index Management Bulletin (Winter 2011)
  • The Future of Alternative Investments (July 2009)
  • Private Equity Indexes — Insight or Self-Deception? (August 2008)
  • Global Real Estate Investing — The Advantages of Going Global (June 2008)
  • Insights on Auditing Alternative Investments (January 2008)

• Audio Podcasts

  • The Enduring Logic of a Well-Constructed Hedge Fund Portfolio (23 min. 46 sec.)

    Northern Trust's hedge fund of funds professionals discuss how - despite the turmoil that roiled the hedge fund markets in 2008 - they believe the value proposition of hedge funds remains intact.

    Listen now to The Enduring Logic of a Well-Constructed Hedge Fund Portfolio (To download, right click on the link and select "Save As.")

  • U.K. REITS (13 min. 18 sec/9.35 MB)

    Real estate investment trusts, or REITs for short, are one of the most talked about and long-awaited investment vehicles on the United Kingdom investment scene. Find out what their arrival in 2007 really means for property companies and investors in the United Kingdom.

    Listen now to U.K. REITS (To download, right click on the link and select "Save As.")

  • The "Forced" Institutionalisation of the Hedge Fund Industry (21 min./14 MB)

    With hedge fund stories constantly in the press, this podcast will be of interest to anyone who wants to find out more about the impact of inflows of institutional money on the hedge fund industry. Northern Trust seeks to explore the consequences that institutionalisation is having on investors and managers alike.

    Listen now to The "Forced" Institutionalisation of the Hedge Fund Industry (To download, right click on the link and select "Save As.")

• Videos

  • The Realities of Private Equity and Hedge Fund Transparency and Fair Valuation (1 hr. 7 min. 32 sec.)

    Northern Trust recently hosted a session exploring the benefits and realities for private equity transparency, valuation practices and requirements. Speakers include: James Bachman, Director of Research, The Burgiss Group, David Larsen, Managing Director, Duff & Phelps and Peggy Bradley from Northern Trust.