Absolute Returns: The Risk and Opportunities of Hedge Fund Investing [Hardcover]

Alexander M. Ineichen (Author), Alexander Ineichen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 18, 2002 | ISBN-10: 0471251208 | ISBN-13: 978-0471251200 | Edition: 1

A practical guide to strategies of hedge fund investing.
Hedge fund expert Alexander Ineichen outlines strategies that hedge fund managers use to achieve superior investment performance, particularly in bear markets, when traditional investment strategies do not perform so well, and shows readers how hedge funds might be added to traditional investment portfolios to achieve superior returns. Nontechnical yet sophisticated, Absolute Returns shows investors how to make educated decisions about hedge fund investment--thoroughly explaining the risks as well as the rewards.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“…offers a solid, comprehensive guide to speculators, explaining the risks as well as the rewards. This book is a valuable addition to every investor’s library.” (Financial World, July 2004)

"It should be required reading for any investor who wants to understand the absolute returns alternative to conventional wealth management." (Hedgeworld.com)

“…required reading for any investor who wants to understand the absolute returns alternative to conventional wealth management…” (HedgeWorld’s Inside Edge, 31 March 2003)

From the Inside Flap

The hedge fund business is about achieving excellent risk-adjusted returns, not about beating the market. In other words, the hedge fund business is about absolute returns. But not all hedge funds are created equal. A poorly chosen hedge fund or portfolio of hedge funds can produce disappointing results.

In Absolute Returns: The Risk and Opportunities of Hedge Fund Investing, Alexander Ineichen-Head of Equity Derivatives Research for UBS Warburg in London and author of the widely read research publication In Search of Alpha: Investing in Hedge Funds-demystifies what hedge funds are, how they invest to generate superior risk-adjusted returns, and what the concurrent risks of investing in them are.

Divided into four comprehensive parts . . .

Part I: The Hedge Fund Industry

Part II: Risk and Opportunities of Absolute Return Strategies

Part III: The Fund of Hedge Funds Industry

Part IV: Going Forward

. . . this book will introduce you to the new investment paradigm of absolute returns, outline the risk and opportunities of absolute return strategies, dispel the myths and misconceptions that have surrounded hedge funds, and provide a detailed look at the advantages and disadvantages of hedge fund investing.

Besides focusing on the characteristics and performance of single hedge funds, Absolute Returns also discusses the fund of hedge funds approach, a strategy in which a single fund invests in a portfolio of hedge funds. Ineichen explores the fund of hedge funds industry, the vehicles within this industry, as well as the potential for alpha in a fund of hedge funds.

There are essentially two main reasons to invest in hedge funds: superior performance and diversification. Absolute Returns will help you understand each of these topics as well as a number of other hedge fund issues you must be familiar with in order to succeed in this arena. Filled with helpful charts, real-world examples, and an informative appendix for each chapter, Absolute Returns will allow you to make more educated decisions about hedge fund investments.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 514 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (October 18, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471251208
• ISBN-13: 978-0471251200
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #154,159 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Who is the Audience?, April 22, 2003

By 

Zachary M Gentry (San Francisco, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Absolute Returns: The Risk and Opportunities of Hedge Fund Investing (Hardcover)

This book has many fine features but has two serious drawbacks as well.

On the positive side, I have never read a more complete polemic in favor of the hedge fund industry. He shreds EMF with loads of good evidence and humorous anecdotes. However, there seems to be a constant drive to reinforce this point. Unfortunately, it takes away from a more thorough analysis of the types of hedge fund investing.

Another problem with the book is that it has trouble discovering its audience. At times, we get detailed descriptions of what alpha and beta represent (Finance 101) and at other times, abstruse PM concepts are brushed over as common knowledge.

I would definitely recommend this book but I recommend that the reader is accompanied by a Dictionary of Finance and Investing.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Introduction to hedgefunds, August 2, 2004

By 

Analyst - See all my reviews

This review is from: Absolute Returns: The Risk and Opportunities of Hedge Fund Investing (Hardcover)

The book opens with an overview of hedge funds. He classifies hedge funds according to the strategies they employ: relative value, event driven, macro, etc. Not only does he explain the trading strategies, but he delves into what can go wrong. In general theres more discussions on equity related strategies, and less in interest rates. Theres lots of historical data/information on hedgefunds performance ,indicating the very poor performance (and high total risk) of traditional funds.

This book provides a nice introduction to hedgefunds, perhaps not so much news for experienced readers. At times theres very detailed information, in other parts the author provides only an overview (whos the audience?).

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Lesson from the Titanic, July 9, 2003

By 

C. Kurdas (Brooklyn, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Absolute Returns: The Risk and Opportunities of Hedge Fund Investing (Hardcover)

The iceberg on the cover represents total risk-partly visible and partly not. Ineichen's point is that hedge fund or absolute return managers tackle total risk while their traditional mutual fund counterparts worry about only one part of it, namely the risk of straying from their benchmark. His extensive discussion contains worthy lessons for all investors who want to understand risk. While not every chapter may be useful for every reader, this book is an excellent place to learn about alternative investment strategies.