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.

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Does your portfolio have bad breadth? Choosing essential betas

In this article, Ed Peters, co-director of global macro at First Quadrant, Ed Peters, examines what markets, or betas, are essential to fully diversitfy a global portfolio, while still achieving long-term goals; and how breadth is often confused with diversification. mrec4inarticleinline Sponsored Content scnative1 scnative2 scnative3

Control shift in GP/LP dynamic: Cambridge Associates

In the headiness of the bull market, institutional investors generally took on more risk and enjoyed fewer rewards than alternatives managers. But the crisis has provided an opportunity for both counterparties to redefine the balance in the LP/GP relationship, in which institutions are entitled to demand a true alignment of interests on returns, lock-ups and

CalSTRS makes allocation changes at expense of equities

In the nine months to March 2009, the $111.6 billion US fund, CalSTRS has vastly altered its asset allocation, decreasing its equities allocation, with global equities now 6.8 per cent underweight the target allocation. mrec4inarticleinline Sponsored Content scnative1 scnative2 scnative3

$100b mismatch in private equity secondaries demand and supply

Recessions are traditionally considered a good time to invest in private equity, but liquidity constraints and the growth of unlisted assets within portfolios is causing pension funds to sit on the sideline. Sally Collier, London-based partner at global private equity fund of funds Pantheon Ventures, said there was a US$100 billion “mismatch” between the funds

Managing opportunities and risks: insights from the world’s largest institutional manager

Richard Lacaille, chief investment officer of the world’s largest institutional investment manager, State Street Global Advisors, spoke with Amanda White about the economy, when markets will turn and the asset allocation and strategies that will best take advantage of that. mrec4inarticleinline Sponsored Content scnative1 scnative2 scnative3

Dynamic AA helps underfunded plans curb risk

Last week Russell Investments released new research arguing some pension plans should consider liability-responsive asset allocation – asset allocation that changes depending on the plan’s funded status. In this in-depth interview Amanda White explores the concept with one of the report’s authors, director of investment strategy, Bob Collie, including why until now such dynamic asset

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