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I am now reading The Handbook of Alternative Assets by Mark Anson. It provides a very good step-by-step explanation of rather complex universe of Alternative Assets. However, I would still prefer to see Real Estate included, even though I understand the author's reasoning for not doing so. Plus, more details on the funds legal structure would also be useful.

Great article on platinum price fundamentals: 'Oversold' platinum and uranium sectors may provide great upsides

Continuing the SWF topic, here are some useful links for everyone trying to keep track of the latest developments: Sovereign Wealth Fund Watch SWF Radar FT In depth: Sovereign Funds Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute TM If anyone is aware of other SWF-related resources, comments are welcome!

It seems that people always have to be afraid of something that is out there. When we are kids we are scared by the ghost stories, when we grow up we blame something more specific, that is out there, but what we wrongly take for something it is not. Take UFOs. Whatever the conspiracy theorists might have to say about them, they turn out to be planes or scientifically explainable atmospheric phenomena. But they are still spooky and scare some people. Now take SWFs. Also something that is (in common understanding) alien and mistaken for something it is not. And apparently, some people also find them spooky. This week IMF gathered the representatives of the world largest SWFs to agree on the draft of Generally Accepted Principles and Practices for Sovereign Wealth Funds. Although not to be made public until October 11, when they will be presented to the IMF's governing council, they are said to contain 24 principles on [quote] legal, institutional and macroeconomic issues, as well as...

I came across a job posting today, reading Senior Fun Manager. Sounds like a lot of fun, maybe I should apply. :-)

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A surprisingly large number of companies in Japan are into Russia-focused M&A Recently I had some opportunities to talk to the bankers in the second-tier companies, and I was surprised by how strong and practical their interest to M&A deals between Japanese and Russian companies is. Although I am not at liberty to mention the company names, I am aware of one Japanese bank that has formed a partnership with a leading Russian brokerage/investment bank and is currently sourcing deals, of one Japanese diversified financial holding that is keen on Russian real estate, and one German bank that apparently has a dedicated team for this kind of deals. And I have a suspicion that this is only the tip of the iceberg. What is most surprising for me, is that the two Japanese financial behemoths, to one of which I belonged until very recently, apparently talk about Russia more than actually do anything. It is the second-tier companies that walk the talk. It is definitely a good news for me...