​Weekly Bulletin: March 30- April 3

Easter and Passover season is typically quiet for financial markets, however Jonathan Kinlay, founder of Systematic Strategies and our buyside commentator this week, is seeing opportunity. Check out his “Lazarus Trade” in the buyside section. In the North America., Canadian and Scandinavian pension funds are leading the charge on alternative beta, or hedge fund replication and diversified risk premia strategies, placing greater pressure on hedge fund fees. U.S. funds are starting to take notice it seems. Greater U.S. interest is also being noted in the Euro Stoxx 50 Volatility Index this year, as liquidity in the benchmark’s futures increases. We also take a look at the current trends in the fixed index annuity market. In Asia, investors looking to position for short-term consolidation in India amid profit taking in the Nifty index are looking at down-and-in calls, while four firms are set to launch an integrated multi-issuer investment products platform in an effort to enhance the distribution of structured products. It is the latest platform launch in the structured products market, following moves by Contineo and a slew of sellside backers to launch a multi-issuer product platform in Asia Pacific earlier this year.