Overview

This unit introduces students to alternative investments as a distinct asset class. Students learn about the characteristics, risk-return assessment, required technology and strategies of alternative investments. Using actual examples from superannuation and sovereign wealth funds students will learn to analyse the use of alternatives as an asset class through an investigation of event-driven, convergence and market-neutral strategies, property, infrastructure, futures, commodities and venture capital. Students will learn the importance of information disclosure, investment performance analysis and the additional due diligence required prior to allocating capital. The ethical concerns for both fund managers and investors will also be explored.

Teaching Periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Semester 1
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
26-February-2024
26-May-2024
Last self-enrolment date
10-March-2024
Census date
31-March-2024
Last withdraw without fail date
12-April-2024
Results released date
02-July-2024
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
29-July-2024
27-October-2024
Last self-enrolment date
11-August-2024
Census date
31-August-2024
Last withdraw without fail date
13-September-2024
Results released date
03-December-2024

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Identify the potential users of alternative investment strategies
  • Evaluate alternative investment strategies by considering risks and returns assessments and performance measures
  • Understand the importance of due diligence in asset allocation and resolve ethical issues arising from the use of alternative investment strategies
  • Understand technological solutions to investment analysis
  • Work collaboratively as a member of a group

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
Face to Face Contact (Phasing out)
Lecture
1.00 12 weeks 12
Online
Directed Online Learning and Independent Learning
1.00 12 weeks 12
Face to Face Contact (Phasing out)
Tutorial
1.00 12 weeks 12
Unspecified Learning Activities (Phasing out)
Independent Learning
9.50 12 weeks 114
TOTAL150

Swinburne Online

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
Online
Directed Online Learning and Independent Learning
12.50 12 weeks 150
TOTAL150

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
AssignmentIndividual 30 - 40% 1,2,3,4 
ExaminationIndividual 40 - 60% 1,2,3,4 
PresentationGroup 10 - 20% 1,2,3,4,5 

Content

  • The need for due diligence in alternative asset classes
  • Real assets: property and infrastructure
  • Hedge funds
  • Managed futures
  • Commodities and their strategies
  • Venture capital and private equity
  • Asset allocation and institutional investors

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.