Tag Archives: AAA

Gold Sales Increase Off Back of China Demand, claims AAA

May 30, 2012 staronepr Leave a comment

As investors all over the world continue to opt for alternative investment over traditional asset classes, demand for gold has increased by 16 per cent over 12 months. In response, AAA predicts demand will grow even further over the course of the year.

Boston, MA, USA, May 30, 2012 — As investors all over the world continue to opt for alternative investment over traditional asset classes, demand for gold has increased by 16 per cent over 12 months. In response, Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA) predicts demand will grow even further over the course of the year.

The amount spent on gold in the past 12 months has increased to $59.7 billion around the world, which AAA claims was given a healthy boost by China’s decision to hedge inflation by increasing its gold investment by 10 per cent.

The figures have been published by the World Gold Council in its Gold Demand Trends report, which also shows that demand for jewelry in China has driven the appetite for gold investment. “Demand for gold rises alongside appetite for alternative investments, but also increases when the population of a country gets wealthier and wants to diversify the risk in their portfolios by investing in tangible assets such as fine jewelry and precious metals,” explained AAA’s analysis partner, Anthony Johnson.

Much of the increase in gold buying took place among the Central Banks of the world’s emerging economies. These banks are looking for asset classes that will not necessarily follow the same patterns as stocks and bonds and other traditional investments.

Mr Johnson added, “And it’s not just financial institutions that are looking at alternative assets to balance out their portfolios, individual investors are now taking asset classes like gold, art, antiques, timberland, real estate and even wine and classic cars seriously.

“They know that these assets can hold their value during an economic downturn and, as a result, it’s a good idea to invest a large chunk of any portfolio in this sector – especially in such uncertain economic times.”

AAA, an alternative investment advocacy group, supports various alternative investment options, including timberland investment through sustainable projects like those run by Greenwood Management in Brazil.

About Alternative Asset Analysis:
The remit of Alternative Asset Analysis is to analyse and provide news on the global performance of a wide range of alternative asset classes including, but not restricted to, commodities, real estate, forestry, foreign exchange, hedge funds, private equity and venture capital.

Media 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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Luxembourg’s AIFM sign-up welcomed by AAA

May 30, 2012 straightlinepr Leave a comment

The news that Luxembourg will be the first market to implement the Alternative Investment Fund Managers (AIFM) Directive has been welcomed by AAA.

Boston, MA, May 29, 2012 – The news that Luxembourg will be the first market to implement the Alternative Investment Fund Managers (AIFM) Directive has been welcomed by Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA).

The country’s officials said that legislation’s introduction would be made imminently and that it was hoping that the law will be passed by the government in Luxembourg “by the end of the year”.

AAA, an alternative investment advocacy group, claims that the legislation will help to further improve the reputation of alternative investment products and asset classes at a time when more and more people are opting for these kinds of investments.

“It’s great news that Luxembourg is taking a serious approach to alternatives and that it is doing what’s necessary to ensure that investors can have as much confidence in the alternative investment market as it does in traditional investments,” stated Anthony Johnson.

A legal expert in Luxembourg, Jacque Levinger, told the Financial Times, “If implemented by the end of this year, it will give the industry around six months to fully comply. It is important all participants have time to understand how to comply.”

The legislation is set to increase fund managers’ ability to offer alternative asset classes to investors who may be wanting to diversify their portfolios. “This is very popular at the moment,” added Mr Johnson. “People know that equities are very volatile and are keen to invest in tangible assets such as precious metals, real estate and forestry to try to reduce the risk in their investment portfolio.”

AAA supports a range of alternative investments and is a particular advocate of ethical investment options that are socially and/or environmentally responsible. It supports forestry investment through firms like Greenwood Management that run sustainable plantation of non-native species of timber in Brazil, Canada and Costa Rica. Investment in these projects can cost anything from around EUR10,000.

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

Business

Sports Memorabilia represent Good Investment Opportunity claims AAA

May 26, 2012 staronepr Leave a comment

AAA claims that sporting goods retailers and sporting memorabilia could be where the major money is for alternative investors.

Boston, MA, USA, May 26, 2012 — Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA) claims that sporting goods retailers and sporting memorabilia could be where the major money is for alternative investors.

The alternative investment advocacy group made the claim following news that a Jersey worn by baseball legend Babe Ruth recently sold for $4.4 million. The shirt was the earliest Yankees shirt belonging to the 1920s batter and has reached record sums at auction – outselling the superstar’s home, which went on market for just $1.6 million.

The jersey had been on display at the Babe Ruth Birthplace Museum in Baltimore for several years but was sold back in April by its private owner to an undisclosed bidder for the huge sum. The price beats the former highest price paid for sporting goods, which was a record held for the original rules of baseball written by Dr James Naismith – selling for $4.3 million in 2010.

“People are sports crazy at the moment,” claims AAA’s analysis partner, Anthony Johnson. He went on to add, “sports memorabilia is selling well, but sporting goods retailers are also outperforming the market.” Johnson is referring to firms like Dick’s Sporting Goods, which is investing heavily in expansion this year and stocks are rising in value.

Alternative asset classes of all kinds are proving increasingly popular with savvy investors who want to ensure that their portfolios are diversified against risks, explained AAA. Those interested in making money from their hobbies can invest in memorabilia or even wine, art, antiques or timber – all of which can regularly outperform stocks and shares.

“People are opting for alternative investments, through firms like Greenwood Management, which specialises in forestry investments, in order to reduce their exposure to equity markets, which are still proving volatile,” explained Johnson. The uncertainties surrounding Europe’s economic recovery is having repercussions all over the world and investors are aware that markets could take another tumble at any time.

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

Business

Online Microfinance Evaluation tool will help validate the industry, says AAA

May 26, 2012 straightlinepr Leave a comment

Socially responsible investors are welcoming the launch of a new web-based analytics platform specifically designed to evaluate microfinance funds, claims AAA.

Boston, MA, May 26, 2012 – Socially responsible investors are welcoming the launch of a new web-based analytics platform specifically designed to evaluate microfinance funds, claims Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA).

Luxembourg-based LuxFLAG and US-based micro financing ratings agency MicroRate, have launched Luminis, which is the first product of its kind. Alternative investment advocacy group, AAA, said its launch follows a period of growth in the microfinance market and for socially responsible investments in general.

The online tool was revealed at the Luxembourg Fund Industry’s Responsible Investing Conference on 10 May. The platform features reports and profiles of the various funds, together with a range of research tools and information to help investors get to grips with impact investing. The team behind Luminis looks at factors including risk, performance and social impact. This data is then presented to users through in-depth fund reports and profiles.

AAA’s analysis partner, Anthony Johnson, welcomed the new tool stating: “The market for socially and environmentally responsible investment products is growing all the time and platforms like this help to enhance the validity of the sector.

“Investors are beginning to realise that making ethically sound investments and seeing healthy returns are not mutually exclusive.”

The CEO of MicroRate, Sebastian von Stauffenberg, meanwhile, stated, “We are excited to see how Luminis will facilitate investment into microfinance, ultimately improving financial access for billions of micro-entrepreneurs around the world.”

AAA supports a range of impact investing options and is particularly keen to promote environmentally responsible alternative investments like sustainable forestry investment through firms like Greenwood Management. Greenwood operates a number of sustainable plantations in Brazil, helping to provide an alternative source of timber products for export and charcoal for the country’s burgeoning steel industry.

Those who invest in Greenwood’s plantations receive a tangible asset in exchange for their cash in the form of a section of plantation land. Mr Johnson added “Timberland investments are popular at the moment as demand for forestry products in developing countries is rising alongside their economic strength.”

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

Business

Tasmania and China Emerging as Centres for Wine Investment, claims AAA

May 21, 2012 staronepr Leave a comment

An international magazine has claimed that China and Tasmania top the list as the two best places to invest in wine, according to an alternative investment advocacy group AAA.

Boston, MA, USA, May 21, 2012 — An international magazine has claimed that China and Tasmania top the list as the two best places to invest in wine, according to an alternative investment advocacy group Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA).

The Drinks Business publication has won praise from the alternative investment industry and particularly from AAA for its Top 10 Vineyard Investments article. It found that some of the more unusual regions offer the best opportunities for investors to see decent returns from their investments in wine making.

For example, Tasmania was cited as a great option as the climate is cooler than Australia, meaning that sparkling wines and good Pinot Noirs can be produced. The land is also cheaper and there is a lack of pests and plentiful water.

China was voted the top location for similar reasons – including the low price of land – ensuring that anyone that invests in the alternative asset class there will see a larger return than those who invest in more established wine-making regions. Chinese people have become avid wine drinkers over recent year to the market is already there.

Tasmania’s minister for economic development, David Burne, said, “Our island offers water availability, soil, land affordability, branding and biosecurity advantages over many popular wine regions.”

More and more people are interested in investing in alternative asset classes as a response to the volatility of the equity markets, explained AAA. The organisation’s analysis partner, Anthony Johnson, claims that the move towards alternative asset classes, such as fine wine, agriculture, forestry and timber products, real estate is intended to diversify investment portfolios against risk.

He stated, “Investing in alternatives is an understandable reaction to the economic collapse and the continuing volatility within the eurozone.

“It’s difficult to product what stock and shares will be doing in a year’s time, but it’s much easier to predict that trees will grow and wine will be made, bottled, and sold on at a premium.”

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

Business

UK most investors keen on Alternatives claims AAA

May 16, 2012 straightlinepr Leave a comment

A new survey by Friends Provident, which has won the support of AAA, has discovered that investors in the UK are particularly keen to invest in alternative asset classes at the moment.

Boston, MA, May 15, 2012 – A new survey by Friends Provident, which has won the support of Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA), has discovered that investors in the UK are particularly keen to invest in alternative asset classes at the moment.

AAA claims that the Friends Provident International (FPI) Investor Attitudes Report’s results reflect the growing trend for investing in collectibles and real estate instead of equities and other transitional investments.

The report found that nearly half (48 per cent) of the British investors questioned in the survey said that now was a good time to be investing in real estate. Among those surveyed in Hong Kong, however, real estate was towards the bottom of their list of asset classes at the moment – demonstrating how different investments are favored in different regions of the world.

The survey also found that UK investors were keen to put their cash in collectibles such as fine wines, classic cars, art and antiques. Some 40 per cent of those asked said that now was the time to invest in these asset classes.

Friends Provident Investments chief investment officer, Mark Versey, gave his response to the findings. He said, “Investors in the UK are displaying a more varied approach to what they consider as good investment strategies in the current economic climate compared to their peers overseas.

“Our survey uncovered a lack of appetite for long-term investments but showed that UK investors remain cautious in their outlook with almost a third keen to preserve their savings through risk free investments.”

AAA’s Anthony Johnson said they the appetite for alternative investments in the UK was a positive thing in response to the global economic crisis. He stated, “It’s not a surprise that those most affected by the downturn are now keen to get something tangible in exchange for their investments.”

AAA supports ethical investments, including sustainable forestry investment through firms like Greenwood Management which runs sustainable forestry plantations in Brazil.

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

Business

Romanian Real Estate Popular with Alternative Investors, says AAA

May 12, 2012 staronepr Leave a comment

Alternative investors are turning their attention towards real estate in Romania and Bulgaria, according to AAA.

Boston, MA, USA, May 12, 2012 — Alternative investors are turning their attention towards real estate in Romania and Bulgaria, according to Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA).

The alternative investment advocacy group claims that real estate is still a popular alternative asset class to those who are shying away from equities while the economy remains volatile. In Europe, investors who were putting their cash into property in Ireland and Spain have now moved their investments to Bulgaria and Romania.

AAA is basing its analysis on a speech from Denise Hamer of Schoenherr Lawyers, who spoke at the recent IPD/Property Investor Europe (PIE) Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) Conference. He talked about how the emphasis for investors has returned to Eastern Europe, where economies like Romania and Bulgaria are set to emerge as the better bets in terms of investment.

Mr Hamer said that it was an exciting time for real estate investor in these regions: “It’s going to be very dynamic and volatile, a very exciting investor atmosphere.”

Signs such as the news that a new shopping centre in Romania’s Ploisesti is already 70 per cent let, suggest that real estate is in demand in the former Eastern bloc country.

Returns could be particularly good on real estate assets bought in the capital Bucharest, which is slowly seeing tourism return and signs of prosperity emerge.

AAA’s analysis partner, Anthony Johnson, said that real estate and other alternative asset classes offer investors the chance to diversify their portfolios against risk. “These kinds of assets – including wine, art, timber, commodities and precious metals – are not as closely correlated with equities as other more traditional asset classes. As a result, when equity markets lose value, these asset classes hold their value.”

AAA particularly supports ethical investment opportunities, such as the forestry plantation projects that Greenwood Management and other firms run in developing countries like Brazil. These projects offer people the chance to buy up a tangible section of plantation and reap the rewards on an ongoing basis.

Media 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 claims Alternative investment will be boosted by Euro elections

May 9, 2012 straightlinepr Leave a comment

The latest news that election results in France and Greece reflected strong anti-austerity sentiment could lead the way for even more interest in alternative asset classes, claims AAA.

Boston, MA, May 09, 2012 – The latest news that election results in France and Greece reflected strong anti-austerity sentiment could lead the way for even more interest in alternative asset classes, claims Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA).

The weekend’s elections in France and Greece reflect the fact that the French are unhappy about the bail-outs delivered to Greece and other struggling EU nations. Meanwhile, the Greek election results showed that the Greek are equally unhappy about the austerity measures brought in by the outgoing leaders in exchange for the bailout cash.

AAA, an alternative investment advocacy group, explains that this ongoing uncertainty about what will happen next in the Eurozone, could lead to even greater demand for alternative investments.

AAA’s analysis partner, Anthony Johnson, said, “following a short period of relative calm in the Eurozone, these elections really couldn’t have come at a worse time.

“For those looking to invest, the anti-austerity sentiment will bring with it more concern about the volatility of the stock exchanges. This, in turn, will lead many to look to less traditional asset classes such as real estate, precious metals and timber.”

AAA claims that there is little doubt that the election results will cause increasing concern about the Eurozone debt crisis. This could lead to millions being wiped from equity markets overnight and open-minded investors will be sure to look elsewhere for long-term risk-averse investment strategies.

AAA supports a large range of alternative investments, but is keen to promote ethical options, such as impact investing and investing in sustainable forestry projects. “We believe that investing in forestry can have far-reaching benefits, such as helping to safeguard the future of the industry in developing countries for generations to come,” explained Mr Johnson.

The organization claims that projects run by firms like Greenwood Management in Brazil offer great investment opportunities as they are not closely correlated with equities and offer good long-term return on investment.

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

Business

Brazil looks Set to Remain Popular with Investors, claims AAA

May 5, 2012 staronepr Leave a comment

AAA said that Brazil is set to remain the focus of much of the world’s alternative investment attention in the coming years.

Boston, MA, USA, May 5, 2012 — Alternative Asset Analysis, (AAA) said that Brazil is set to remain the focus of much of the world’s alternative investment attention in the coming years.

The views from the Alternative investment advocacy organization reflect those expressed by HSBC Global Asset Management’s Pedro Bastos. He recently spoke at a briefing on the health of the region to investors in Malaysia.

He said that the country remained a “hub” for the creation of businesses. He added, “Among all emerging markets, Brazil has been the best performer for the last ten years, both in equities and fixed income.”

He added that the population of Brazil has become richer and more and more people from outside the country are starting to see it as a good prospect. This is particularly true for alternative investments in sustainable forestry through firms like Greenwood Management, added AAA’s analysis partner, Anthony Johnson.

Bastos told delegates: “Companies see Brazil as a major consumer market. We have an increasing middle class, which is about 55 per cent of the population. In the last ten years, personal income growth has been consistent at 4.5 to five per cent.”

Mr Johnson explained that the demand from inside Brazil for steel is exceptionally strong as the country is due to host the Football World Cup in 2014 and the Olympics in 2016. In the meantime, the country is also going through some major growth and is improving its infrastructure as a result.

Steel is also very much in demand in other growing economies, such as India and China, explained Mr Johnson.

He explained “The steel industry needs charcoal and charcoal comes form timbers. Brazil has passed laws to try to prevent the industry taking charcoal form forests and, as a result, there is major demand for sustainable produced charcoal.”

Media 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 support Health care Benefits of Impact investing

May 5, 2012 straightlinepr Leave a comment

A new form of impact investing could lead to a rise in life expectancy by helping to deal with the causes of health problems, according to analysts and AAA.

Boston, MA, May 05, 2012 – A new form of impact investing could lead to a rise in life expectancy by helping to deal with the causes of health problems, according to analysts and Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA).

A new white paper from researchers at UC Berkeley argues that Health impact Bonds and similar impact investing routes can help save lives in developing countries and at home. The paper, that was also put together with help from Collective Health, suggested that these bonds help to address the underlying social problems that cause people to make unhealthy choices that can affect their long-term health.

The researchers’ white paper follows claims that the majority of increase life expectancy in the US has come as a result of lifestyle, social health care, cleanliness and hygiene, rather than from better care once ill.

It is, then, advantageous to try to deal with the root cause of ill health rather than simply ploughing money into more and more care once people have already become ill.

AAA’s analysis partner, Anthony Johnson, explained that impact investing can help in some very straightforward ways. “Money invested into socially and environmentally responsible projects can go towards anything from building clean water wells in Africa to providing education on healthy eating seminars in inner-city America.

“Either way, it’s a lot more ethical than investing in stocks and shares,” added Johnson.

Health Impact bonds can help projects such as the efforts to cut asthma in Fresno, California, through a simple education process, helping people remove mold from their homes and get new air filters and soft furnishings.

AAA claims that impact investing has brought benefits to many areas of the world and that investing in sustainable forestry projects can help communities in developing countries to safeguard their forestry industry for generations to come. “Investing in projects such as the Health Impact Bonds and Greenwood Management’s plantation schemes in Brazil can ensure investments make a real difference,” 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