Asian investors are increasingly using single-dealer e-trading platforms that they say offer anonymity and spread improvement, rather like dark pools for equities.
Like other consultants, Russell Investments is increasingly looking to provide services to the region’s wealth-management market, such as its OpenWorld funds platform.
The plan is to increase their allocation to alternative assets from 11% to 17% by 2012 which is a bigger jump than in other regions, according to a Russell Investments survey.
The consulting firm has hired Stephen Roberts from Russell Investments as Asia-Pacific head of investment management and plans to compete in the multi-manager market in the region.
Having named a head of alternatives advice in Australia, the US firm is looking to hire for the same role in Japan, as it re-estimates its model portfolios.