We see a contrast between the importance of the currency risk factor in modern investment management and its treatment in portfolio analytics like performance attribution and risk budgeting. Part of this can be explained by conceptual complexities: currencies are not just another asset class,...

We are said to live in an “Alpha-centric” world, in which investors supposedly focus on “Alpha”. This demand is met by active investment managers – “Alpha hunters”. This note does presents two conceptual arguments why Alpha does not automatically result in superior risk-adjusted...

We present empirical evidence for 47 liquid stocks from the SPI universe that the diversification potential remained intact during the Financial Crisis. This contradicts the widespread believe that diversification has failed and has major implication for the risk management approach used in...

We explain the variability of the mean-variance efficient frontier over time with a statistical three factor model. For an asset universe consisting of 22 stocks listed in Switzerland, the model explains more than 99% of the time variations in the efficient frontier.The three factors can be...

We highlight important and specific characteristics of default risk and methodological implications. In a simulation contrasting independent, Gaussian and Clayton copulas, we also show that joint default probabilities might be a hidden source of risk in conventional portfolio models of default

In this research note, we will discuss a specific asymmetrical model and build an attribution framework which allows relating the effects of asymmetry on Alpha and Beta relative to a benchmark model, the single-index model with its symmetric Alpha and Beta. We explain the difference between two...

In this research note, we explain how to correctly calculate contributions to ex post returns and ex post volatility and tracking error. The calculations are performed on a realistic portfolio, i.e. a portfolio in which the asset weights change over time due to active management and passive...