Credit Suisse's Asset Management Business Releases Commodities White Paper Examining Hidden Risks in Active Commodity Indices

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Apr 09, 2013, 10:39 ET

NEW YORK, April 9, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Credit Suisse's Asset Management business announced the release of a new white paper entitled, "Uncovering Hidden Risks in Active Commodity Indices". Co-authored by Nelson Louie, Global Head of Commodities, and Chris Burton, Head of Portfolio Management Commodities in Credit Suisse Asset Management, the white paper focuses on the evolution of commodity investing and how the increase in new commodity index strategies over a relatively short period of time has created new challenges for investors.

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Normally thought of as "active indices", new commodity index strategies seek to calibrate beta exposures based on specific quantitative or fundamental factors with the goal of generating better returns than more established benchmarks. Many of these new indices are optimized towards particular factors and events. Messrs. Louie and Burton believe that investors should evaluate and understand the risk factors within active commodity indices before making an investment decision.

In addition, the white paper includes the following:

Common factors used to create active indices;
How factor-based indices are backtested;
Comparison of returns and volatility of factor-based indices versus arbitrarily-selected indices as well as traditional benchmarks;
How the intricacies of commodities investing present unique challenges for investors, and how they differ from other actively managed asset classes, such as equities; and
How an active/discretionary manager may provide an alternative and help manage active commodity exposure for an investor who may not be comfortable managing these risks on his or her own.

For a copy of "Uncovering Hidden Risks in Active Commodity Indices," please contact Katherine Herring at [email protected].

Credit Suisse AG

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SOURCE Credit Suisse AG