Tag Archives: Alternative Asset Analysis

AAA Urges Investors to Attend Cayman Islands Summit

July 5, 2012 staronepr Leave a comment

AAA is calling for those interested in alternative investing to attend the ‘Innovation in Alternative Investments: Seeing What’s Next’ summit in the Cayman Islands on 1-2 November. The event is part of the Cayman Alternative Investment Summit.

Boston, MA, USA, July 5, 2012 — Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA), an alternative investment advocacy group, is calling for those interested in alternative investing to attend the ‘Innovation in Alternative Investments: Seeing What’s Next’ summit in the Cayman Islands on 1-2 November. The event is part of the Cayman Alternative Investment Summit.

The summit is to take place at the Ritz-Carlton on Grand Cayman and delegates are expected to include a wide range of investors, academics and economists. They will attend in order to discuss ways in which a healthy alternative investment industry can be further established.

Sir Richard Branson, the founder of The Virgin Group, is to act as keynote speaker at the event, which comes at a time when the popularity of alternative investments is growing due to the volatility of stocks and bonds markets.

AAA’s analysis partner, Anthony Johnson, said, “Those attending this important summit will be able to contribute to the future of the industry – sharing ideas on how more can be done to bring alternatives into the mainstream.”

The Summit is being organized by Alternative Investment Research and is intended to bring together some of the best minds in the industry to examine how some of the challenges facing the industry can be dealt with.

Speaking to PR Newswire about the event, Sir Richard Branson said, “I am excited to be in the Cayman Islands for the Cayman Alternative Investment Summit.

“The event has a very impressive range of speakers from the alternative investment industry that will make for some very interesting discussions on the future of the industry.”

AAA supports a wide range of alternative investment routes, including ethical options such as forestry investment through firms like Greenwood Management, which operates plantations in Brazil, and impact investing. “We believe that ethical investment and making a healthy return are not mutually exclusive,” said Mr Johnson.

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

Business

Morgan Stanley Impact Investment Platform attracts support from AAA

June 23, 2012 staronepr Leave a comment

AAA is speaking out in support of the launch of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney’s Investing and Impact Platform, which is intended to make it easier for investors to put their money into socially responsible projects.

Boston, MA, USA, June 23, 2012 — Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA) is speaking out in support of the launch of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney’s Investing and Impact Platform, which is intended to make it easier for investors to put their money into socially responsible projects.

The investments offered through the platform are intended to be socially and environmentally responsible while offering risk-adjusted financial returns. “The project should enable more financial advisers offer a wide range of impact investing products to the masses and not just the wealthy”, explained AAA’s analysis partner, Anthony Johnson.

AAA claims that the market for impact investing is growing, with one in every eight dollars in the US invested in projects that are considered to have corporate and societal responsibility at their center. This totals a huge $3.07 trillion in value terms and shows that people do want to make responsible decisions that align their financial goals with their personal ethics.

Mr Johnson added, “The more products available, for those interested in impact investing, the better.

“We are seeing more and more individuals and even institutional investors looking for ways to make a difference while they make money and these kinds of platforms make it easier to do so.”

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney’s Paul Hatch, added, “With over 4 million clients who have more than $1.7 trillion of investable assets, we are in a unique position to extend the reach of an ‘investing with impact’ program to one of the largest sets of investors in the world.

“Even a fraction of this total represents a substantial amount that could be invested in support of the common good.”

AAA supports a range of ethical investment funds and projects and is especially keen to promote forestry investment as a profitable and ethical options. Mr Johnson explained, “investing in plantations, like the ones run by Greenwood Management and other firms in Brazil, offers a great diversifier for any portfolio and can also help to safeguard the future of sustainable forestry for generations to come.”

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

Pensions are turning to Alternatives, claims AAA

June 22, 2012 straightlinepr Leave a comment

AAA, an alternative investment advocacy group, is backing a report from Russell Investments, which claims that more and more institutional investors will be putting cash into alternative asset classes.

Boston, MA, June 21, 2012 – Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA), an alternative investment advocacy group, is backing a report from Russell Investments, which claims that more and more institutional investors will be putting cash into alternative asset classes.

Russell’s researchers talked to 114 institutional investors about their investment plans and found that many of them had already opted for more exposure to alternatives. The report found that 22.4 per cent of the investment portfolios, which totalled $1.1 trillion in value, was invested in alternatives including private equity, hedge funds and real estate investment trusts. This totalled $246 million in value terms.

Russells said that the research indicated that alternatives would become more mainstream over the coming three years as more and more pension funds take their cash out of stocks and bonds and put it into alternative asset classes.

AAA’s analysis partner, Anthony Johnson, said, “it’s telling that so many pension funds and other institutional investors are moving towards alternatives.

“The general consensus among investors is that equity markets are still extremely volatile and many are steering clear of stocks and shares as a result.”

According to Russells, a third of the investors questioned said that the “current low return environment in traditional assets” were to blame for their move towards alternatives. AAA claims that alternative assets can deliver healthier returns than traditional assets and hold less risk.

“Those investing in timberland, for example, can hold onto their asset and just watch it grow if timber prices are down when their trees reach maturity. It’s hard to think of any traditional asset class that physically grows over time.”

AAA supports ethical investment projects and sustainable forestry plantations such as those run by firms like Greenwood Management in Brazil. “Investing in plantations is becoming more attractive as people are increasingly looking for tangible assets in exchange for their investments.”

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: Property Investors are keen to expand their Portfolios

June 16, 2012 staronepr Leave a comment

Property investors are increasing the size of their portfolios in the UK and elsewhere, as the appetite for alternative investments continues to take hold, according to AAA.

Boston, MA, USA, June 16, 2012 — Property investors are increasing the size of their portfolios in the UK and elsewhere, as the appetite for alternative investments continues to take hold, according to Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA).

The alternative investment advocacy group has cited figures from Paragon Mortgages, a lender in the UK, which claims that the average property investor, who buys property to rent out, has increased the size of their portfolio to 14.1 properties in the second quarter of the year. This is up from an average of 12.9 properties in the first quarter of 2012.

“These figures suggest that each buy-to-let investor has bought more than one new property since the beginning of the year, which is a major increase in portfolio size and an indicator that real estate is back on the list of safe investments,” stated Anthony Johnson, AAA’s analysis partner.

As well as the above figures, Paragon’s survey also found that 21 per cent of the investors questioned said they were planning to add to their portfolios in the third quarter of the year. This was up from just 18 per cent a year ago.

AAA claims that real estate is a strong investment at the moment, as the rental market all over the Western world Is extremely active, with many young professionals still looking for rental property. The US real estate market is also heading for recovery once more, according to Mr Johnson who highlighted the benefits of alternative investments of all kinds.

“We are seeing more and more people put their cash into tangible asset classes, such as real estate, timberland, gold and even art and antiques, as they search for alternatives to the volatile equity markets.”

AAA said that timberland is particularly ethical choice for alternative investors, with firms like Greenwood Management, in Brazil, running sustainably managed plantations of non-native trees.

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

Capital Platform’s New Alternative Proposition attracts Praise from AAA

June 16, 2012 staronepr Leave a comment

Capital Platform’s new alternative investment proposition for investors in the UK has attracted praise from AAA.

Boston, MA, USA, June 16, 2012 — Capital Platform’s new alternative investment proposition for investors in the UK has attracted praise from Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA).

AAA, an alternative investment advocacy group, said that the new offering from Capital Platform will help to further underline the validity of a range of alternative asset classes on offer today.

The new initiative is intended to help investors to research various alternative investment options, with regards to factors such as ethics, compliance and returns. The firm’s director Darren Beddard, explained, “Capital Platform has been designed as a trusted source to give independent financial advisers and wealth managers everything they need to best serve clients in their alternative investment strategies.

“It offers an innovative proposition designed to make life easier for product providers and IFAs/wealth managers by delivering a range of products and services where we do the hard work for them.”

AAA is a keen supporter of alternative investments of many kinds and is a particular backer of ethical and responsible investment options in emerging markets. AAA’s analysis partner, Anthony Johnson, explained, “Today’s volatile stock markets have resulted in a huge number of individuals and institutional investors setting their sites on alternative asset classes.”

AAA supports a range of projects, including impact investing projects in Africa and sustainable forestry investment plans in Brazil. “Funds such a those set up and operated by Greenwood Management, for example, help to detract pressure form natural resources that are highly vulnerable, such as the native Amazon rainforest,” added Mr Johnson.

Speaking about the new Capital Platform offering, Mr Beddard added, “Capital Platform currently offers more than 20 products from a range of providers on which we conduct extensive due diligence.

“Whether unregulated collective investment schemes, enterprise investment schemes or venture capital trusts, we ensure the products on the platform conform to FSA and Financial Services and Markets Act rules.”

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

Lifestyle investments are ‘Realistic option’, says AAA

June 16, 2012 straightlinepr Leave a comment

AAA is highlighting a recent article in the Huffington Post, detailing the growing popularity of ‘lifestyle investments’ as an alternative to traditional asset classes.

Boston, MA, June 15, 2012 – Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA) is highlighting a recent article in the Huffington Post, detailing the growing popularity of ‘lifestyle investments’ as an alternative to traditional asset classes.

The article begins by talking about the rising popularity of wine investments and the fact that fine wine investments have generated returns of 195 per cent over the past seven years, according to the London International Vintners Exchange (LIVEX). Demand for wine is growing in the emerging economies of China, Russia and Brazil – simply as a response to the growing wealth of the populations in these new economic ‘powerhouses.’

The fact that demand for wine is growing makes this a good time to experiment with so-called lifestyle investments such as wine, according to AAA’s analysis partner, Anthony Johnson. He said, “It’s easy to start small with these kinds of alternative investments.

“An investment of as little as £500 to £1,000 will enable you to purchase some incredibly good fine wines whose values could rise exponentially over the coming years.”

The Huffington Post article outlines the range of different funds investors can opt into if they would like to take a more official route towards lifestyle investments. For example, The Wine Source Fund is based on a range of fine wines and whiskies that combine to create what the fund calls “a balanced portfolio able to benefit from longer and shorter production cycles”.

Others specialise in older fine wines and even manage cellars for investors who need to keep their valuable investments in tiptop condition.

AAA backs a range of alternative investments and is keen to promote what there is to be gained from investing in something that interests you. “Those who are interested in fine wines, art and antiques and starting to realise that they can make money for heir hobbies.

“The same can be said for those who are keen to help promote sustainability and eco-investments, who can invest in sustainable forestry through firms like Greenwood Management,” added 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 Highlights Implications of Gold Demand Rise in China

June 15, 2012 staronepr Leave a comment

The increasing demand for gold in China is another indicator of the growing popularity of alternative investments around the world, claims AAA.

Boston, MA, USA, June 15, 2012 — The increasing demand for gold in China is another indicator of the growing popularity of alternative investments around the world, claims Alternative Asset Analysis, (AAA).

The Commercial Bank of China’s precious metals department claims that the demand for gold investments could increase by ten per cent this year. The growing demand for commodities like gold, silver and timber is down to a desire among investors to seek safe havens from the ongoing Eurozone crisis.

This is according to AAA’s analysis partner, Anthony Johnson. The seasoned asset manager said, “individual investors and institutional investors alike are all looking at ways of diversifying their portfolios to protect against risk.”

Zheng Zhiguang, the general manager of the Commercial Bank of China’s precious metals department, backed up AAA’s view. He told the Economic Times: “Investors here want to hold part of their assets in gold to hedge for the risks, especially now that the financial crisis has evolved into a sovereign crisis.”

The World Gold Council forecasts that China will exceed India this year as the largest market for gold bullion as more and more of the country’s new wealthy population seek safe havens for their cash. Mr Zhiguang added that Chinese investors are facing volatile equity markets and a poor real estate investment opportunities and are looking towards gold as a result.

AAA is an advocate of many varieties of alternative investments and claims that they are growing in popularity since the global economic crisis. “It’s not difficult to see why many people prefer to buy tangible assets of stocks and shares these days,” claimed Mr Johnson. He added, “Assets like timber, gold and fine wine have consistently outperformed the equity markets and also provide investors with an ethical choice.”

AAA advocates ethical investment, through projects such as the sustainable plantations run by Greenwood Management, which offers investors the chance to directly invest in timberland for as little as EUR10,000.

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

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.

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

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

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