The Curious Quant

The Curious Quant series, hosted by Michael Kollo, is a discussion between technically-minded professionals in the financial services, technology and data science fields. It carefully examines the application of new data and new methodologies to common problems in financial markets. The aim is to promote better discussions about these emerging areas, and a better understanding of new technologies.

 

 

Michael Kollo is a seasoned investment professional with a deep passion for the pragmatic discussion and application of quantitative models to solve problems. His PhD in Finance is from the London School of Economics where he lectured in quantitative finance in addition to Imperial College and at the University of New South Wales. He has created models and led quantitative research teams at Blackrock, Fidelity and Axa Rosenberg in the UK before more recently moving to Australia where he established the quantitative team for the $50 billion industry superannuation fund, HESTA. Kollo is an experienced speaker, author, mentor, a keen student of philosophy and more recently, a podcaster. The Curious Quant is a series of conversations with market leaders, deep thinkers and practitioners who deal with the wonder and frustrations of these models and who are on the front line of AI innovation.

Sponsored Content

Leave a Comment

Sort content by

Demographic problem mostly about haves and have-nots

The demographics driving the funds management industry, of ageing populations almost everywhere, are more complicated than you think. Greg Bright spoke to the Asia Pacific leader for Towers Watson, Bob Charles, who is a demographics expert, about the real demographic problems facing the world.mrec4inarticleinline Sponsored Content scnative1 scnative2 scnative3

Equities lose out to bonds for Europe’s sustainable investors

Bonds are the favoured asset class at 53 per cent among European sustainable and responsible investors with equities dropping to 33 per cent, according to a Eurosif SRI report.mrec4inarticleinline Sponsored Content scnative1 scnative2 scnative3

Tail risk hedging should be part of broader strategy

With bond yields at historic lows, particularly in the US, pension funds have been searching for new forms of downside protection to reduce tail risk, boosting demand for certain types of hedge funds in the process. In the US, too, where demand is invariably met by a quick supply of new products, specialist ‘tail-risk funds’

Endowment funds turn to alternatives

Foundation and endowment funds are allocating the largest percentage of alternatives to their portfolios, with public funds coming second ahead corporate plans in third place.mrec4inarticleinline Sponsored Content scnative1 scnative2 scnative3

The case for a new look at global benchmarks

Indexes are important for pension funds. They benchmark the fund’s performance against goals and peers. They allow the fund’s managers to be measured and often times they decide the managers’ remuneration. You would think, then, that there must be a lot of science behind their use.mrec4inarticleinline Sponsored Content scnative1 scnative2 scnative3

Asia Pacific funds passport gathers momentum

State Street has thrown its weight behind the proposal for the Asian Pacific region to collaborate on development of an ‘Asian Funds Passport’ to facilitate the growth of locally domiciled managed funds.mrec4inarticleinline Sponsored Content scnative1 scnative2 scnative3

Previous