Preqin's latest report overwhelmingly confirms that transparency is here to stay for hedge fund managers vying for institutional capital.

A new report on the needs of institutional hedge fund investors amounts to a manifesto for reform among the world's hedge fund managers.

There's nothing like a good list of acronyms to confuse even the most immersed hedge fund aficionado. A new report by KPMG and RBC Dexia unintentionally takes the industry's affinity for acronyms up a notch.

Traffic at airports, on railroads, and on toll highways is pretty stable. So you might expect investments in these assets to be commensurately stable, but think again...

Investors and managers alike are moving back toward the smorgasbord of different types of alternative investments that is private equity, but there are still signs that indigestion and tummy aches may come back to haunt.

It's tough to argue that private equity and real estate aren't the most intuitive investment this days, but a recent report suggests institutional investors are seeing some promise.

Most sovereign wealth funds have two objectives: to make money and to achieve the state's economic development objectives. Two scholars recently tried to measure the possible "tension" between these competing interests. What they found will be very useful for anyone trying to sell their services to a SWF.

The University of Texas endowment recently revealed that it had nearly $1 billion of gold hidden away in their basement. This might be a good time to revisit whether US endowments are really that smart.

Much to the chagrin of activist hedge fund managers, poison pills are making a comeback - in new and more lethal forms. For managers in particular, reading the label and following the directions is more important than ever.

It's getting easier to lead an institutional manager to illiquid strategies - not water - according to a recent survey by eVestment Alliance and Casey Quirk. But after what happened in 2008, why would they drink?

Despite talk of a "new normal", a closely-followed annual review of US endowment investing reveals that we're finally moving back to the "old" normal.

A new study shows that the adoption of alternative investments by pension funds is really just part of a longer term trend toward specialization in investment management (think: hedge funds).

Hedge fund matchmakers are facing new rules when it comes to matching their clients with public pension funds. The question is whether it's a growing trend or will the matchmakers will soon start looking for different matches.

Blaming swooning financial markets and the recession for funding shortfalls has become a national pastime among U.S. pension funds. A new report suggests that they need to stop pointing fingers and start taking responsibility for their actions.

A study of 125 U.S. state pension plans reveals that management incentives, misguided accounting standards and conflicting interests could perpetuate a funding gap roller coaster.

A recent Mercer report proposes a way to integrate climate change into financial decision-making. Could this finally move climate change from the social agenda to the financial agenda?

Infrastructure investments remain a hot trend among institutional investors, though a new report suggests they are a lot more complicated - and risky - than as commonly perceived.

A recent scan of the financial reports of 150 major pension funds reveals the world's most popular alternative investment managers. Here's an award not even Lindsay Lohan could win.

A working paper by researchers at the IMF suggests there are four relatively distinct types of sovereign wealth funds. And once you know the fund type, you can guess at their appetite for alternative investments.

Full points for stamina! After dropping by more than half between 2006 and 2008, REITs are nearly back to their pre-crash size. But do they have what it takes to succeed in the long term?

Real estate in various forms continues to gain favor among institutional investors. For hedge funds, the problem is the shadow being cast.

Not to be confused with crashing and burning or with high-intensity workouts, impact investing promises to be the next step forward in earning a return and being socially and politically responsible. What remains to be seen is how many institutions will adapt to it.

Hedge fund allocations at US pension funds could be the victim or the beneficiary of changes to pension rules currently being debated internationally.

For institutions, it's easier than it used to be to put money to work in "green" investments. The question is whether they can still earn a decent return doing it.

A recent poll of institutional investors reveals "bullishness" about alternative investments, but also provides some food for thought about emerging managers, liquidity and return chasing.

Death: Uncorrelated with the equity beta - as long as market volatility doesn't give us all heart attacks.

Inventor of VIX adds a new flavor to the fruit salad of financial indexes.

If pensions funds were hockey teams, it seems many of them probably wouldn't want to watch the scoreboard too closely.

Hedge funds and others are trying their best to ensure they don't make the "yuan" moves as China maneuvers it's way to tighter monetary policy.

Real estate investment trusts (REITs) are gaining popularity around the world. REIT-on dude!

A new academic paper suggests alpha does exist after all - just not in the form or format that many investors think.

A study based on newly available pension fund data suggests that there are significant economies of scale in pension fund management. But a recent study based on the same data seemed to conclude the opposite.

A new academic paper puts more blame on hedge funds for the 2008 credit crisis and market collapse, arguing that liquidity risk in stocks is inherently higher among securities held by hedge funds than in securities held in the portfolios of individual investors and banks.

How alternative music can turn into alternative beta.

Those who blame alternative investments for the travails of US university endowments may want to read this recent paper.

M&A activity in the hedge fund space continues to thrive, though it's not green shoots and blooming roses for all, as a new report by Freeman & Co. shows.

For pensions it's quickly gone from 8%-plus assumed returns to fighting just to keep the assets and liabilities in sync.