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Gold still sparkles in 2012, claims AAA

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An expert who is backing gold as a top alternative investment strategy for 2012 has attracted the support of AAA, according to the advocacy group.

Boston, MA, January 14, 2012 – An expert who is backing gold as a top alternative investment strategy for 2012 has attracted the support of Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA), according to the advocacy group.

AAA has said it is backing claims from former Kaana Konya and City adviser and broker, Tullett Brown, who claims that gold will continue to gain value over the coming year.

AAA’s Anthony Johnson said, “As we start a new year, many people will be looking to take a fresh perspective on their investments and may be looking to make some more alternative choices after the dire year the equities markets had.”

“Gold is a good bet as far as we can see, especially as leading analysts, such as Brown, can see it rising yet further in 2012 after a stellar year in 2011.”

The price of gold has dropped recently, after a long period of increased prices over a number of months, explained Tullett. However, this is not a time to be frightened off of investing in precious metals, he continued. Instead, investors should take advantage of this slight dip to buy up gold assets and hold onto them until the market improves later in the year.

Tullet and AAA’s argument is that all the factors that led to gold’s massive gains in 2011 are still active in 2012, such as the uncertainties over the equity markets and the Eurozone crisis. Mr Johnson explained, “People are still very wary about stocks and shares and are desperate for a tangible investment opportunity”

As a result of this demand, it is not just gold that has seen an increase in interest over recent months, Johnson added. Wine, stamps, art, antiques, forestry and property are all asset classes that gained popularity during the recession and continue that momentum today.

AAA is particularly keen to promote forestry investment as an alternative asset class that also offers an ethical choice.

Contact:
Anthony Johnson
Alternative Asset Analysis
71 Commercial St
Boston, MA 02109-1320
617-939-9596
info@alternativeassetanalysis.com
http://www.alternativeassetanalysis.com

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Ethical investment survey welcomed as ‘Great tool’ by AAA

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Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA) has commented on the latest survey from IFA Barchester Green Investment, which intends to find the best and worst ethical investments in the UK.

Boston, MA, January 10, 2012 – Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA) has commented on the latest survey from IFA Barchester Green Investment, which intends to find the best and worst ethical investments in the UK.

“Barchester’s Heroes and Villains survey is a great tool for anyone looking to make an ethical investment in 2012,” commented AAA’s Anthony Johnson. The analysts for the alternative investment advocacy and research group, added, “Here at AAA, we believe that it is possible to make money while making a positive impact on social and environmental issues, particularly by investing in projects working in developing countries.”

The Barchester survey looks to whether certain funds within the ethical and environmental sector are living up to their long-term goals and generating return for investors. The top-ranked fund for 2011 was the Aviva Sustainable Future Managed Fund, which has £310 million of assets under management at the moment.

Other funds to make the Heroes list included the Kames Ethical Equity Fund, Henderson Industries of the Future and the Cheviot Climate Assets. There has been a major increase in interest in ethical funds in recent years, thanks to a general move towards alternatives in response to volatility within the equity markets.

“When people are looking for an alternative fund, they are often drawn towards ethical options as they can also be some of the most profitable for investors,” added Mr Johnson.

AAA supports a range of impact investing options, as well as non-fund based investments, like direct forestry investment through firms like Greenwood Management. This option involves buying up sections of plantation land in countries like Brazil and Canada and making profits as the trees grow and are sold off for timber. The whole process is sustainable and both encourages and demonstrates managed forestry techniques in countries that need to protect their forestry industries for generations to come.

Contact:
Anthony Johnson
Alternative Asset Analysis
71 Commercial St
Boston, MA 02109-1320
617-939-9596
info@alternativeassetanalysis.com
http://www.alternativeassetanalysis.com

Business

AAA comments on success of Niche REITs

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Specialty real estate investment trusts (REITs) are performing extremely well, according to alternative investment advocacy group, Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA).

Boston, MA, December 23, 2011 – Specialty real estate investment trusts (REITs) are performing extremely well, according to alternative investment advocacy group, Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA).

Although REITs have outperformed other markets generally over the past year or so, the more niche the REIT, the better they have performed, according to AAA, which supports the alternative investment market in general.

AAA’s analysis partner, Anthony Johnson, is basing his assertion on a recent report in the New York Times, which showed that the REITs that invested in non-standard and niche property, such as warehouses, cold storage and energy infrastructure, outperformed the rest of the real estate investment market this year.

“What we’ve seen is these specialty or non-core property types have actually done pretty well this year,” explained Steve Shigekawa, of the Neuberger Berman Real Estate fund, when speaking to the newspaper. His firm invests funds in data centres and storage for timber, as well as self-storage units.

Mr Johnson said that the performance of the niche REITs reflected a general trend moving toward the more alternative of alternative investments. He explained, ”The Dow Jones general REITS index shows that this asset class has delivered returns of 3.32 in 2011. This compares with returns of 7.94 for the Dow Jones Specialty REITs index.”

Data storage centres are particularly lucrative for investors at the moment, as the demand for data centre space is increasing all the time, particularly with the emergence of cloud computing.

Mr Johnson added, “Alternative investments do not correlate closely with general economic trends, which means that they are perfect for people who want to diversify their portfolios against risk.

“This has, of course, become increasingly the case in light of the economic crisis, as investors are all too aware that they could potentially lose thousands over night if the market should crash off the back of another US or Eurozone crisis,” added Johnson.

Contact:
Anthony Johnson
Alternative Asset Analysis
71 Commercial St
Boston, MA 02109-1320
617-939-9596
info@alternativeassetanalysis.com
http://www.alternativeassetanalysis.com

Business

India’s new elite will head towards alternatives, claims AAA

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Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA) agrees that India’s new high net worth population will help the alternative investment industry to experience a further boom.

Boston, MA, December 22, 2011 – Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA) agrees that India’s new high net worth population will help the alternative investment industry to experience a further boom.

Between now and 2016, the wealth of India’s richest is expected to treble and many of these wealthy individuals are eager to invest in alternative asset classes, claims AAA.

The alternative investment advocacy group backs reports from Karvy Private Wealth, which claim that private equity funds and other alternative funds will reap the benefit of India’s new-found wealth.

AAA’s analysis partner, Anthony Johnson, stated, “There is no doubt that India’s elite will start to look for the very best, risk-averse ways to invest their cash.

“Along with those in the West, Indian investors are looking towards alternatives to provide a means of diversifying their portfolios to protect themselves against further unpredictable market crashes,” added Mr Johnson.

Karvy’s study said that Indian investors are actually even more averse to risk than their counterparts in more developed economies and will, therefore, focus on alternatives to provide them with returns that are not correlated with the stock markets.

However, Karvy said that wealthy Indians are not currently investing in alternative asset classes as much as they are expected to in the coming years, representing major growth opportunities for alternative fund providers.

AAA was keen to point out that alternatives and ethical investment is growing in popularity all over the world, as wealthy investors try to spread the risk tied up in their portfolios to protect against the impact of the economic crisis.

AAA promotes impact investing and other varieties of ethical investment, such as sustainable forestry investment through organisations like Greenwood Management in Brazil. These kinds of more boutique alternative investment providers should also benefit from the rush to invest among India’s new set of rich and savvy business people.

Contact:
Anthony Johnson
Alternative Asset Analysis
71 Commercial St
Boston, MA 02109-1320
617-939-9596
info@alternativeassetanalysis.com
http://www.alternativeassetanalysis.com

Business

AAA: Alternative Real Estate Worth Considering

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Reports that alternative property investment could become increasingly popular have been highlighted and welcomes by Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA).

Boston, MA, December 19, 2011 – Reports that alternative property investment could become increasingly popular have been highlighted and welcomes by Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA).

Many investors are still looking for safer places to put their cash aside from stock markets that are still feeling the pinch from continuing economic uncertainty. Alternative investment advocacy group, AAA, said that this has led more people to consider real estate as a possible asset class in which to invest.

Phil Clark of Kames Capital agrees, telling Property Wire: “My view is that 2012 will be every bit as challenging as 2011, however, there are still many good opportunities for property investors to make well informed decisions.” He is urging people to consider investing in property with an emphasis on lettings as the rental market continues to fly.

He explained, “In particular I believe investors should consider a greater exposure to alternative sectors such as residential property, student accommodation or healthcare property. One of the key attractions of these alternative sectors is they generally have a high income yield, an ability to track inflation and have low vacancy rates.”

The increase in rental demand is being particularly felt in the South East, where Clarke believes the need to own homes will reduce over the coming years. AAA’s analysis partner, Anthony Johnson agreed, adding, “There is no doubt that the scarcity of mortgages is contributing to an influx in young, wealthy people who are looking to rent smart homes instead of buying.”

AAA supports interest in alternative asset classes as a means of diversifying investment portfolios against risk. It also supports ethical investments, such as forestry schemes where investors can buy up sections of forests in Brazil and elsewhere and sell the mature trees for timber within ten years or so. “Schemes such as the one operated by Greenwood Management in Brazil offer investors good rates of return , tax breaks and the peace of mind that only an ethical investment can generate,“ claimed Mr Johnson.

Contact:
Anthony Johnson
Alternative Asset Analysis
71 Commercial St
Boston, MA 02109-1320
617-939-9596
info@alternativeassetanalysis.com
http://www.alternativeassetanalysis.com

Business

AAA Reports On Growing Appetite for Wine Investment

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More evidence that wine may be the new favourite among alternative investors has been unearthed, according to Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA).

Boston, MA, December 12, 2011 – More evidence that wine may be the new favourite among alternative investors has been unearthed, according to Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA).

The Alternative investment advocacy and research group claims that Investment guru Michael Spencer’s purchase of a minority stake in “the Goldman Sachs of the wine market”, the Bordeaux Index, further demonstrates the asset class’s popularity.

“The fact that many alternative asset classes have become extremely pricey in recent months has meant that the more alternative of alternative assets are now becoming a more valid option for those looking to invest,” stated AAA’s analysis partner, Anthony Johnson.

He added “Although wine is still seen as somewhat of a niche investment market, this is changing rapidly and with high profile moves like this one, involving Mr Spencer, more investors could follow this lead.”

This is not just to do with the relative affordability, however. It is arguably more to do with the fact that wine has performed very well while other more traditional assets have taken a hit. The founder of Bordeaux Index, Gary Boom, said, “If you take wine from when we started measuring in 1983 it has outperformed all the stock exchanges out there. Not by masses, but by one or two per cent a year. The only commodity that has stood up to that is gold.”

Wine investment is also an effective diversifier for investment portfolios as it is much less likely to follow the same patterns as equity markets and has a low correlation with general economic trends. One of the major drivers in the wine market at the moment is the increasing demand from China where the population’s increasingly sophisticated tastes are leading to a boom in the market for all things luxurious. Hong Kong has also seen a rise in demand, helped along by the removal of a duty that was previously charged on wine.

Mr Johnson added, “alternative investors can also look at other more alternative alternatives for lower cost options, such as forestry investment products like those offered by Greenwood Management in Brazil. This firm offers people the chance to invest in their own piece of forest from around EUR 10,000.”

Contact:
Anthony Johnson
Alternative Asset Analysis
71 Commercial St
Boston, MA 02109-1320
617-939-9596
info@alternativeassetanalysis.com
http://www.alternativeassetanalysis.com

Business

RICS art and Antiques report shows validity of alternative investments – AAA

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A new survey showing art and antique prices rising has prompted Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA) to promote the asset class as a viable option to investors.

Boston, MA, December 10, 2011 – A new survey showing art and antique prices rising has prompted Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA) to promote the asset class as a viable option to investors.

The UK-based Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Art and Antiques survey found a 26 per cent increase in the number of chartered surveyors who reported a rise in the value of collectibles, including art, antiques, wine and coins.

Some 62 per cent of the surveyors questioned also reported an increase in the numbers attending auctions where these items are sold. These figures indicate a very healthy market for collectibles, which are becoming increasingly attractive to investors looking to diversify their investment portfolios to protect against risk.

Simon Rubinsohn, the chief economist at RICS, said, “The British art and antiques market is buoyant at the moment; as buyers continue to invest in material assets during uncertain economic times.

“After the recent £300 million worth of art auctions, Britain now commands 29 per cent of the global art trade and is the world second largest art market.”

AAA, which is an alternative investment advocacy group, claims that these figures provide solid evidence of the validity of such assets as an investment strategy during these volatile economic times. The organization’s analysis partner, Anthony Johnson, said, “With the equity markets as they are, there is a growing appetite among investors for alternative asset classes, which are increasingly seen as a safer haven for cash than stocks and shares, which can lose investors thousands over night in the current economic climate.”

AAA advocates the role alternative assets have to play in portfolios, especially during times of uncertainty. The group is particularly interested in promoting ethical investments and schemes that can help reduce climate change or reforestation in developing countries, such as the plantations grown by Greenwood Management in Brazil.

“Sustainable forestry schemes such as these can help to safeguard the future of the forestry industry for generations to come,” explained Mr Johnson.

Contact:
Anthony Johnson
Alternative Asset Analysis
71 Commercial St
Boston, MA 02109-1320
617-939-9596
info@alternativeassetanalysis.com
http://www.alternativeassetanalysis.com

Business

AAA calls for responsible investment in response to Occupy movement

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Alternative investment and impact investing advocacy group, Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA), has announced its support for more social enterprise investment as called for by London-based expert, Luke Fletcher.

Boston, MA, December 01, 2011 – Alternative investment and impact investing advocacy group, Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA), has announced its support for more social enterprise investment as called for by London-based expert, Luke Fletcher.

Fletcher, of the Social Finance Group, claims that investing in social enterprise initiatives could be the most workable solution to the current unrest about the financial markets. AAA supports this claim and is looking to raise awareness of both the global impact of socially responsible investment, and the potential returns they can offer.

Writing for SocialEnterpriseLive.com, Mr Fletcher asserted that those involved in demonstrations against fat-cat wages and the general model on which global business operates, through the Occupy protests, should be focusing their efforts on promoting social enterprise as an alternative.

AAA’s analysis partner, Anthony Johnson, added, “We are keen to remind people that there is an alternative to stocks and shares and that it is possible to make a real statement against capitalism through sensible, ethical investments in social and environmental projects.”

Mr Fletcher explained, “Social impact investment is projected by JP Morgan to be at least a $400 million-$1 trillion industry over the next decade.” He added that the City of London needs to realise this potential and leverage its strength to move to the forefront of this emerging asset class.

AAA promotes impact investing as a means of making strong returns while steering cash injections in a direction that is positive for developing countries, vulnerable communities and the environment. Some ethical alternatives have already caught on in the mainstream, such as forestry investments through firms like Greenwood Management, which manages sustainable forestry plantations in Brazil. However, more needs to be done, claims AAA.

AAA joins Luke Fletcher and many others involved in social enterprise, in hoping that the Occupy movement triggers a change in attitude, among investors in general, towards more responsible and fair investment choices.

Contact:
Anthony Johnson
Alternative Asset Analysis
71 Commercial St
Boston, MA 02109-1320
617-939-9596
info@alternativeassetanalysis.com
http://www.alternativeassetanalysis.com

Business

AAA welcomes Shariah-compliant Alternative investments

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News that a major Bahrain-based alternative investment bank has increased its investment in US real estate has been welcomed by Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA) as a further sign of the popularity of alternative assets among Muslim investors.

Boston, MA, November 24, 2011 – News that a major Bahrain-based alternative investment bank has increased its investment in US real estate has been welcomed by Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA) as a further sign of the popularity of alternative assets among Muslim investors.

Investcorp has just announced the closure of new deals to buy large office complexes in both New York and California’s Long Beach region. It has also recently completed deals to buy office blocks in London.

Other real estate owned by Investcorp includes a $37 million building on Boynton Beach in Florida and a huge 221-unit residential community complex in Atlanta. The latest acquisitions are worth some $300 million, according to reports.

The firms makes alternative investments that are compliant with Islamic laws that prevent people from investing in propositions that could be seen as involving any form of gambling. Investcorp’s president for the Gulf business, Mohammed Al Shroogi, said, “Our historical experience in the US real estate market allowed us to identify and acquire these three Sharia-compliant properties.”

He added, “They complement our growing mix of investments selected for their strong and stable tenant histories, ties to growing metropolitan communities, and above market cash yields.”

AAA claims that alternative investments can be a good option for Muslim investors due to the way they are structured. Investing in forestry, for example, offers a stable investment in a tangible asset that will grow predictably in size and therefore in value. Forestry schemes such as the sustainable plantations grown by firms like Greenwood Management in Brazil, can also be seen as more ethical choices, as they are helping to reduce deforestation in developing countries.

AAA’s analysis partner, Anthony Johnson, explained, “more and more investors are moving away from traditional equities and into more alternative asset classes in order to reduce the risk in their portfolios. This is something Shariah-compliant investors have been doing for some time, and the model seems to work.”

Contact:
Anthony Johnson
Alternative Asset Analysis
71 Commercial St
Boston, MA 02109-1320
617-939-9596
info@alternativeassetanalysis.com
http://www.alternativeassetanalysis.com

Business

AAA Reports On Popularity Of US-based REITs

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American investors are pouring their cash into real estate investment trusts (REITs), according to Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA) and the Wall Street Journal newspaper.

Boston, MA, November 20, 2011 – American investors are pouring their cash into real estate investment trusts (REITs), according to Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA) and the Wall Street Journal newspaper.

AAA, which advocates investing in alternative asset classes that help to diversify portfolios in these uncertain economic times, has welcomed figures showing a rise in interest in real estate as a lucrative investment choice.

Some $6 billion has been invested so far this year in publically traded REITs. This represents an increase of 18 per cent on last year’s investment levels and a remarkable 400 per cent rise from 2009’s levels.

The US-based trusts typically buy up real estate such as shopping malls, apartment buildings and other commercial property. This type of property is seeing stronger recovery rates and the investors are keen to get involved while the market is beginning its upward trend.

AAA’s analysis partner Anthony Johnson, said, “We are always pleased to hear that investment in an area of alternatives is on the up and it seems that US-based REITs are proving irresistible to those looking to diversify their investment portfolios and protect against risk.”

AAA supports a number of different alternative asset classes, with focus on some of the more ethical choices around the world. Impact investing is becoming increasingly popular, while investing in green projects such as forestry plantations in developing countries – like Greenwood Management’s Brazilian forestry investment projects, also attract praise from AAA’s analysts.

Speaking about alternatives, Lois Carrier of Carrier & Maurice Investment Advisors, told the Wall Street Journal, “When almost everything else is down, you usually count on these wild cards to be up.”

For example, the FTSE Nareit All Equity REITs index for October recorded a return of over 7 per cent, compared with a much more subdued 1 per cent return recorded by Standard & Poor’s 500-stock index for the same period.

Contact:
Anthony Johnson
Alternative Asset Analysis
71 Commercial St
Boston, MA 02109-1320
617-939-9596
info@alternativeassetanalysis.com
http://www.alternativeassetanalysis.com