Impact: Alt Investments Digest

A complete trader covers many bases; besides executing trades, they are the eyes and ears on the market, and keep a pulse on how things are evolving. This also means being aware of evolving technology, data or any other aspect of modern trading.  

In April 2024, diversified systematic trend-followers demonstrated resilience and adaptability. Despite more moderate gains, key indices achieved new high watermarks, underscoring the robustness of these strategies. ATS Trading Solutions

NilssonHedge is a premier Hedge Fund database focused on Liquid Alternatives, covering strategies ranging from Managed Futures to Long Short Equity via Crypto Trading Strategies. NilssonHedge is focused mainly on return data and analytics. They're operated by Investors for Investors. NilssonHedge

With equity markets nearing record levels, financial advisors are advocating for diversification into alternative investment strategies to build a truly diversified portfolio. But what exactly constitutes a diversified portfolio? ETF.com

Fidelity Investments' survey of RIAs at wealth management firms revealed that only 26% had exposure to alternative investments, compared to 86% of institutional investors. However, over half of the advisors cited two key challenges in adopting or expanding the use of alts in client portfolios. Frumerman

Not exactly alternative, but an an exception is due; I started subscribing to The Lund Loop back in 2010. Brian has gift for insightful storytelling to lead his weekly newsletter (The Anecdote). He’s also a smart trader, with a great feel for markets, particularly equities. A good guy and very kind with his time, he’s had a big influence on me as I transitioned from institutional to retail trader and newsletter editor. The Anecdote

Innovations in the crypto domain and advancements in communications technology are ushering in a new cycle termed the "protocol economy." This emerging paradigm may become the dominant model for commerce in the coming years. Franklin Templeton

The rise of tokenized financial products may just be the beginning, as major financial players delve deeper into blockchain technology's potential. This exploration could pave the way for a surge in on-chain funds, potentially posing a challenge to the dominance of stablecoins, suggests Colin Butler, Head of Institutional Capital at Polygon Labs. Blockworks

Always a great listen, Michael Martin is a trader and coach/instructor for MartinKronicle. His show deals with the emotional and psychological aspects of trading and managing risk. Martin's own book is called "The Inner Voice of Trading" (which I read years ago) and features interviews with Michael Marcus, Bill Dunn, and Ed Seykota - who also wrote the Foreword.

In his analysis, Howard Marks explores the correlation between leverage and survivability, inspired by a recent Collaborative Fund post by Morgan Housel. He emphasizes the importance of optimizing leverage rather than maximizing it (which I’ve found to be the default path taken by retail traders), highlighting the nuanced approach needed in determining the appropriate level of leverage.