In this paper we use a scenario-based ALM model to study the effects on the risk-return profile of defined benefit pension funds from including options in the pension fund portfolio. Our results show that properly constructed option strategies can add substantial value to pension fund...

In this paper we report on a new class of derivative products which we refer to as 'equity-linked savings products' (ELSPs). ELSPs require investors to pay periodic installments in return for a predefined equity-linked payoff at maturity. We discuss the structuring, hedging, pricing and...

Although the inclusion of hedge funds in an investment portfolio can significantly improve that portfolio's mean-variance characteristics, it can also be expected to lead to significantly lower skewness and higher kurtosis. In this paper we show how this highly undesirable side-effect can be...

In this paper we investigate whether it is possible for a fund of hedge funds to not only offer investors access to a diversified basket of hedge funds but to provide skewness protection at the same time. We study two different strategies. The first is for a fund to buy stock index puts and...

In this paper we study the persistence and predictability of several statistical parameters of individual hedge fund returns. We find little evidence of persistence in mean returns but do find strong persistence in hedge funds' standard deviations and their correlation with the stock market....

This paper provides an overview of the most important statistical properties of individual hedge fund returns. We find that the net-of-fees monthly returns of the average individual hedge fund exhibit significant degrees of negative skewness, excess kurtosis, as well as positive first-order...

The monthly return distributions of many hedge fund indices exhibit highly unusual skewness and kurtosis properties as well as first-order serial correlation. This has important consequences for investors. We demonstrate that although hedge fund indices are highly attractive in mean-variance...

In this paper, we study the multivariate return properties of a large variety of commodity futures. We find that between commodity groupings (such as metals, energy, etc.) correlations are very low and mostly insignificant whereas within groups they tend to be much stronger. In addition,...