Investors who build diversified, multi-asset portfolios, have an ever increasing range of investment assets at their disposal. In order to invest effectively - and build a solid, performing portfolio - it is essential for investors to understand each of these single asset classes and how to use them in portfolios. The Investment Assets Handbook covers the full spectrum of different asset classes and investment types available today, providing investors with the definitive information they need to reach an understanding of the broad range of investment assets. The Handbook is divided into four parts: 1. An introduction to asset classes, including how they should be defined, the main features that can be used to characterise asset classes and the roles that different assets fulfil within a multi-asset portfolio. 2. Traditional assets, including global equities, fixed income and cash. 3. Alternative assets, including real estate, commodities, private equity and hedge funds. 4. New alternative investments, including currency, infrastructure, structured finance, leveraged loans, structured products, alternative or smart betas, volatility, art, insurance-linked securities and timber. Each asset chapter within these sections provides a description of the asset and its characteristics, its historic performance, how to model its future long-term performance, the role it performs in a multi-asset portfolio, its risks, how to access it, and other relevant topics. Long-term investment themes that may impact the future behaviour of assets and investing generally are also highlighted and discussed. The Investment Assets Handbook is the essential guide that investors need as they navigate the universe of investment assets and build multi-asset portfolios.

Previous editions of this comprehensive reference book have been called arequired reading for students, investors, and writersa by" USA Today," and aa teeming reservoir of informationa by the" Oakland Tribune." Updated to reflect the 2006 investment climate, the new edition of Barronas" Finance and Investment Handbook" presents a financial dictionary of more than 5,000 terms, an analysis of many current investment opportunities, guidelines for non-experts on what to look for when reading corporate reports and financial news sources, an up-to-date directory of hundreds of publicly traded corporations in the United States and Canada, and a directory listing the names and addresses of brokerage houses, mutual funds families, banks, federal and state regulators, and other major financial institutions. Here in one big volume is indispensable information for planning and maintaining a healthy investment portfolio.

Since the first edition of the Handbook of Alternative Assets was published, significant events-from the popping of the technology bubble and massive accounting scandals to recessions and bear markets-have shifted the financial landscape. These changes have provided author Mark J. P. Anson with an excellent opportunity to examine alternative assets during a different part of the economic cycle than previously observed in the first edition. Fully revised and updated to reflect today's financial realities, the Handbook of Alternative Assets, Second Edition covers the five major classes of alternative assets-hedge funds, commodity and managed futures, private equity, credit derivatives, and corporate governance-and outlines the strategies you can use to efficiently incorporate these assets into any portfolio. Throughout the book, new chapters have been added, different data sources accessed, and new conclusions reached. Designed as both an introduction to the world of alternative assets and as a reference for the active investor, the Handbook of Alternative Assets, Second Edition will help you match alternative assets with your various investment goals.

This book provides comprehensive coverage of the field to both accounting professionals and professionals in other fields who have a need or desire to obtain a quick, understandable, and thorough exposure to a complex accounting-related subject. It is designed as a single reference source that provides an answer to all reasonable questions on accounting and financial reporting asked by accountants, auditors, bankers, lawyers, financial analysts, and other users and preparers of accounting information.

The book provides comprehensive coverage of the field to both accounting professionals and professionals in other fields who have a need or desire to obtain a quick, understandable, and thorough exposure to a complex accounting-related subject. It is designed as a single reference source that provides an answer to all reasonable questions on accounting and financial reporting asked by accountants, auditors, bankers, lawyers, financial analysts, and other users and preparers of accounting information. Chapters are prepared by partners in major accounting firms, financial executives, financial analysts, or other relevant business professionals. Every major international accounting firm is represented among the authors. The specialized expertise of the individual authors remains the critical distinguishing characteristic of the Accountant's Handbook. This book is supplemented annually.

The latest edition of Jacobs' popular reference provides current performance and investment data on 1,300 no-load and low-load mutual funds, Jacobs' detailed advice on mutual funding investing, a review of the last year, and several useful appendices. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR