This second edition of the book analyses the latest developments in investment management policy for institutional investors. It is divided into four parts, which have been updated to include the newest approaches and strategies in asset allocation, portfolio management and performance evaluation. The first part analyses the different types of institutional investors, i.e. institutions that professionally manage portfolios of financial and real assets on behalf of a wide range of individuals. This part goes on with an in-depth analysis of the economic, technical and regulatory characteristics of the various categories of investment funds and of other types of asset management products, which have a high rate of substitutability with investment funds and represent their natural competitors. The second part of the book identifies and investigates the stages of the investment portfolio management. Given the importance of strategic asset allocation in explaining the ex post performance of any type of investment portfolio, this part provides an in-depth analysis of asset allocation methods, illustrating the different theoretical and operational solutions available to institutional investors. The third part describes performance assessment, its breakdown and risk control, with an in-depth examination of performance evaluation techniques, returns-based style analysis approaches and performance attribution models. Finally, the fourth part deals with the subject of diversification into alternative asset classes, identifying the common characteristics and their possible role within the framework of investment management policy. This part analyses hedge funds, private equity, private debt, real estate, infrastructures, commodities and currency overlay techniques.

Discusses the newest developments in investment strategies Allows readers to understand both theory and practice of asset management Includes a preface from Prof. Andrea Sironi, President of Bocconi University

Autorentext

Ignazio Basile is Full Professor of Financial Markets and Institutions at University of Brescia, Italy, Department of Economics and Management.

Pierpaolo Ferrari is Full Professor of Financial Markets and Institutions at University of Brescia, Department of Economics and Management, and Professor of Banking and Finance at SDA Bocconi School of Management, Bocconi University, Milan, Italy.

Inhalt

Institutional Investors.- Collective Investment Vehicles and Other Asset Management Products.- Stages of Investment Management Policy.- Strategic Asset Allocation with Mean-Variance Optimisation.- Methods and Tools for Portfolio Selection.- Alternative Approaches to Traditional Mean-Variance Optimisation.- Integrating Sustainability Criteria into the Investment Process.- Performance Evaluation.- Returns-Based Style Analysis.- Performance Attribution.- Portfolio Diversification Policies: Alternative Asset Classes.- Hedge Funds.- Hedge Fund Performance.- Private Equity.- Private Debt.- Real Assets.- Commodities.- Currency Overlay.