The 282 institutions spread across 12 European countries which responded to the JPMorgan Alternative Asset Survey 2007 are set to plough almost €104bn into alternative asset classes over the next two to four years.

BNP Paribas and ETF Securities have both launched commodities investment products offering diversity along the futures curve dimension in recent weeks.

Sir David Walker recently published his final report and guidelines on private equity disclosure and transparency, following on from his Working Group’s consultation paper from July this year.

Clontarf Capital’s Aoifinn Devitt explains why, when it comes to commodities, investors should opt for a staggered market entry.

The second half of 2007 has been volatile for international equity markets – primarily a result of the turmoil in global credit markets. This retreat from risk has seen liquidity drain from credit markets and resulted in the worst global credit squeeze since 1998.

Two issues need addressing in the current US market: the first is whether we are heading towards a recessionary environment. We have seen one of the worst housing markets since the Great Depression and it is likely this downturn will persist next year.

It has always been assumed that the economic fortunes of Latin America are intertwined with the US. According to data from the World Trade Organisation, North America is the major trading partner of South and Central America, absorbing 33 per cent of its exports and supplying 29 per cent of its imports. The region would therefore appear to be vulnerable to the slowdown in US growth forecast for 2008.

Asia ex-Japan has returned 37 per cent this year (in US dollars), and 255 per cent since the start of the bull market in March 2003. With clouds gathering on the global economic horizon – attributable in part to weakness in the US housing market and the sub-prime crises - and Asian equity valuations trading at a premium to global equities, investors are justifiably cautious in the near term.

Natixis Global Asset Management’s CEO, Pierre Servant, talks to Henry Smith about its continued growth from Europe through to Asia and where it has set it sights for the future.

Despite the touted benefits, the merging of two companies is invariably an unsettling process, fraught with challenges and uncertainties. Staff morale can be affected, service standards can suffer and clients can become disenchanted and leave.

Group treasurer Jacob Tsang talks to Ruth Emery about the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s different investment pools and how it is galloping ahead of its rivals with the inclusion of hedge funds in its portfolios.

As 2008 approaches, HSBC’s global head of institutional sales tells Nat Mankelow of her plans for the future in emerging Europe, Asia and in Australia’s pensions market.

Averting and adapting to potentially catastrophic climate change could be the defining theme of this century. Peter Guest investigates capital markets solutions.

The European asset-backed securites market is in for a long, cold winter. Nat Mankelow examines the likelihood of recovery come spring.

Delegates to this month’s euro fixed income forum in Paris discuss how the ongoing fallout from the credit crisis has presented a number of opportunities for institutional investors, in addition to expanding the role of central banks. Nat Mankelow reports from the French capital.

PensionsFirst has come to market with schemes promising “complete immunisation of all risks” – including longevity risk – and with a suite of tailored products that will securitise those risks for the capital markets. Is it all too good to be true? Martin Steward investigates.

Nat Mankelow talks to Dr Fritz Janda, managing director of Fachverband der Pensionskassen, the driving force behind Austria’s second pillar pension revolution.

Why do European investors lag so far behind US investors in allocating to cleantech venture capital? And as cleantech moves up the cap-scale, will this further discourage much-needed early-stage financing? Martin Steward reports.

Logging your first timberland investment is not about going out on a limb: it could provide compelling returns with low volatility, while allowing you to plant – literally – an effective inflation hedge. Isn’t it time you saw the wood through the trees? Martin Steward reports.

Exchange-traded funds, or ETFs, remain hugely popular, garnering particular interest from multi-managers. Gerry O’Kane explains why ETFs manage to excel, despite scepticism.

Institutions looking to access the ETF structure no longer need to go as far afield as the US – not with Dublin and Luxembourg as favoured European domiciles. Gerry O’Kane reports.

Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have grown in popularity over recent years and are fast becoming part of the investment mainstream. There are now over 400 ETFs available on a multitude of indices, ranging from straightforward country index trackers to more exotic products offering exposure to emerging market or reverse indices and other asset classes.

Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) might have started as a mere speck on investors’ horizons when the first 3 products appeared in the US in 1993 valued at $0.81bn, but their growth worldwide over 14 years sees assets under management standing in excess of $746bn.

BidRoute has been dubbed the eBay of portfolio trading, and the startup hopes to bring standardisation and transparency to the portfolio trading marketplace. Peter Guest reports.

The portfolios of the best performers in large-cap global equities throw up few surprises when it comes to regional or sectoral weightings, but some intriguing individual names indicate that they are finding diverse sources of alpha. Martin Steward explains.

Despite the red tape surrounding MiFID, the deadline seems to have come and gone without so much as a raised eyebrow. But can the industry carry on with business as usual, or will the effects of MiFID soon become apparent? Our roundtable participants weigh up the issues.

After years of speculation, Europe’s alternative trading venues are making the transition from vague projects to real businesses. Peter Guest examines their prospects.

As technology becomes ever-more crucial in best execution, Richard Semark, COO of Client Trading and Execution at UBS, gives a back-to-basics explanation of smart order routing.

Transition managers are coming under ever-greater scrutiny. Our panel of experts discuss the issues surrounding transition management, such as the controversial T-Charter, and what the future holds within this arena.

Henry Smith: Eugene, you mentioned earlier that you saw the T-Charter as a sort of base standard which will evolve and be enhanced over time. How could the T-Charter be improved, particularly with a view to protecting the interests of clients?

While the T-Charter remains a voluntary code of practice, it is widely regarded as an exciting development and significant step forward for the transition management industry.

With both Ireland and Luxembourg capturing a sizeable share of the fund administration market, other financial centres are striving to win specialist mandates. Ceri Jones reports.

Since 2000, Guernsey has been growing its reputation as a leading private equity domicile. However, events of the past few weeks and months have really crystallised the fact that the Island is now the jurisdiction of choice for private equity.

The Isle of Man Government, in association with local industry, recently overhauled their funds industry, resulting in the Smith Report, published in February 2007.

Global asset managers need to take a fresh approach to fund sales if they want to win in Asia, explains Simon Shapland of RBC Dexia Investor Services.

As new asset management products and strategies multiply, they demand a new approach by the back office. Bernard Hanratty, Managing Director and Head of Fund Services for Europe, Middle East and Africa at Citi reports on an ever-changing investment landscape.