Sunday, 19 December 2010

A “non-directional fund" OR an absolute-return fund

Absolute-return fund is designed to generate a steady return no matter what the market is doing. Alfred Winslow Jones managed his pioneering hedge fund with this goal, although the long-short strategy that he used was just one of several methods that snagged him consistent return.


Although absolute-return funds are close to the true spirit of the original hedge fund, some consultants and fund managers prefer to stick with the label absolute-return fund rather than “hedge fund.” The thought is that hedge funds are too wild and aggressive, and absolute-return funds are designed to be slow and steady.

In truth, the label is just a matter of personal preference. An absolute-return strategy is most appropriate for a conservative investor who wants low risk and is willing to give up some return in exchange. That falls in category of portfolio management.

Hedge fund managers can use many different investment tools within an absolute-return strategy.


Some say that absolute-return funds generate a bond-like return, because like bonds, absolute-return funds have relatively steady but relatively low returns.
The return target on an absolute-return fund is usually higher than the long-term rate of return on bonds, though. A typical absolute-return fund target is 8 percent to 10 percent, which is above the long-term rate of return on bonds and below the long-term rate of return on stock.

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