Alternatives made up 50% of new product registrations

Alternatives products appeared to be in fashion last financial year, according to the latest data from independent fund registry, APIR Systems.

They were so fashionable that they made up almost half of product registrations.

According to APIR, alternative products were the most popular type of managed investment product registered by the firm with its chief executive, Chris Donohoe products identifying as alternatives accounted for 44.8% of new registrations.

This even trumped equities which were the next most popular category with 37.87% followed by fixed income with 8.88% and cash/cash equivalent with 5.03%.

Donohoe said that the breakdown showed that 57.10% identified as wholesale products, 39.94% as retail and 2.96% as other.

“Half of the registrations – 50.89% – had a domestic geographical focus, 42.31% had a global (including Australia) focus and 6.80%had an international (excluding Australia) focus.”

Donohoe pointed out that the alternatives category covers a broad range of asset types and registrations predominately comprised mortgage and single asset property funds.

He said these funds are generally closed end funds and have a shorter investment cycle than traditional managed investment products.