Funds are investment vehicles that are professionally managed. They are used to invest and grow assets over the medium to long term, so they are more than simply a source of finance or a savings instrument. One key element of funds is their use of a broad range of investments (diversification) to reduce individual risks.
Funds are investment instruments. Anyone who buys shares is exposed to investment risk. The risk is contained by law, but cannot be eliminated.
Depending on the investment focus, investment funds can be subject to modest or significant price fluctuations, just like shares and bonds. However, fund assets do not appear in the fund provider's balance sheet, which means that investors are protected if the fund provider is declared insolvent. As investment funds qualify as special funds, fund assets are legally ring-fenced. In general, investment funds do not entail issuer or counterparty risk, unlike other types of investment such as bonds and structured products. There are two types of fund. Reinvestment funds do not pay dividends. Instead, all earnings (interest, dividends) are constantly reinvested and capital gains become part of the fund assets. Distributing funds pay out all earnings (such as interest income and dividends) and capital gains to unit holders.
A bit of history
The Swiss investment fund business first came into being in the early 20th century. However, the concept of a fund goes much further back: funds were created in response to massive financial crises. The founding fathers of funds originally wanted to develop a joint yet simple form of capital investment for citizens which offered the financial benefits that were automatically available to large investors. Key features were the volume of assets and unrestricted access to investment expertise.
Although originally created for small investors, there are now funds for all classes of investor and every conceivable investment requirement. Investment funds have changed a lot over time, gradually moving away from their original defensive function. Although fund assets are still broadly diversified and managed professionally, they are now used within portfolios s well as for global asset management. Funds can be used to optimise and manage global investments. Reallocations can be implemented rapidly at a lower cost, making it easier to respond promptly to changes in the financial markets.
No such thing as full protection
Funds are investment instruments. Any investor who buys into a fund is exposed to investment risk, which is contained by law, but cannot be eliminated. Consequently there is no such thing as full protection for fund investors. Funds are affected by developments in the financial and currency markets. However, if a fund fails to meet an investor's personal return targets, the investor is at liberty to withdraw at any time.
Hedge funds
A special kind of fund which invests primarily in futures, derivatives, commodities, etc. Hedge funds pursue a range of strategies and often work with a large proportion of borrowed capital. Unit value tends to be independent of traditional investments such as money market instruments, bonds and equities, and marked fluctuations are possible.
Typical investment strategies:
Relative value: convertible arbitrage, fixed income arbitrage, equity market neutral
Event-driven: merger arbitrage, distressed securities
Directional: long/short equities, global macro, managed futures
Multi-strategies
Real estate funds
Real estate funds invest the bulk of assets in residential and business properties, development land, buildings under construction and shares in real estate companies. Swiss real estate funds issue units in the form of subscription rights as part of a capital increase; redemptions of investment fund units are subject to a notice period. Most real estate funds are traded on stock exchanges at market prices.
