Investor Economics Insight March 2018

Reading the tea leaves of the Canadian investment funds industry suggests that mutual fund companies may soon get a regulatory regime that will enable them to offer liquid alternatives. But, what could they expect of this development? What is the potential opportunity? What challenges may they encounter? The lead story of this month’s Insight report examines the evolution of the U.S. liquid alternatives market, paying special attention to the types of products and strategies that have met with success over time; their pricing; and how advisors have incorporated them into their practices. We also track the managers behind the best-selling asset classes and funds. The Trendlines article looks at recent sales patterns of fixed income funds, with a focus on stand-alone mutual funds and ETFs.