By Phillip Morton -
A new investment product has been launched by the UK-based Barclays Bank that enables small investors to match hedge returns with a stake of as little as £3,000 ($5,340).
The Protected FTSE Hedge Fund Plan, available through the Woolwich, part of the Barclays Group, aims to track the performance of the FTSE Hedge Fund Index launched earlier in the summer.
It is designed to allow retail investors a route into the world of hedge funds – traditionally the preserve of the high-net-worth investor. Minimum investment levels for direct participation in a hedge fund are usually around $100,000, and often as much as $1 million.
The FTSE Hedge Fund Plan is capital protected, meaning investors will not lose their initial stake. However, customers will pay for this guarantee by receiving only two-thirds of any gains that the plan makes.
The FTSE Hedge Index, launched in June, currently comprises 40 open and investable hedge funds representing a cross-section of hedge fund strategies.
Source: Investors Offshore
