Smaller hedge funds who manage assets totalling less than $100 million have outperformed their larger rivals by a wide margin this year, research from PivotalPath shows. Average returns at the smaller funds stood at 10.6% at the end of August against 1.3% achieved by larger funds.

Private-equity managers are eyeing firms that put digital technology at the heart of their business model so they have more chance of a successful future sale. With the pace of digitisation increasing as a result of the global pandemic, technology might evolve into less of a sector in its own right and more of a "differentiator" between individual businesses, says one senior industry figure.

Hedge fund short positions have increased against companies whose businesses prospered as a result of coronavirus lockdowns, with fund managers now predicting the earlier advantage will fade for such entities.

The London Stock Exchange Group says it is prepared to offer trading of European Economic Area securities on its Dutch platform, a multilateral trading facility run by Turquoise Global Holdings Europe, if the UK and EU do not strike an equivalence agreement to allow cross-border services. Turquoise will trial this no-deal Brexit contingency plan on Nov. 7, with all LSEG members required to participate.

Institutional investors such as pension funds have been poured trillions of dollars into alternative asset classes but their performance is now being called into question, writes Jonathan Ford.

Negotiations between the UK and the EU over the relationship between the two after the post-Brexit transition agreement expires are expected to resume in a few days, a senior EU diplomat said. Speaking for the UK government, Michael Gove said the door to an agreement remains ajar.

Quality financial advice matters to clients, but a new report suggests forming a personal connection is key to keeping their business. Researchers found that 25% of clients surveyed between the ages of 30 and 75 said they would drop their advisor if they didn't feel a personal connection.

Many advisory firms that didn't offer lifestyle benefits have added them during the coronavirus pandemic, writes consultant Angie Herbers. The top three that Herbers has seen all involve paid time off: sabbaticals, paid volunteering time and unrestricted vacation time.

The coronavirus pandemic highlighted the importance of including alternative assets classes such as private equity investments, real estate and annuities in 401(k) plans, experts says. "Simply put, if you spread your investments between different asset classes, including those that do not move with the public equity markets, the likelihood of a complete drop in value is reduced," said Patrick Hagen, national director at STRATA Trust.

It's never too early to start saving for retirement, even during a pandemic, says personal finance columnist Michelle Singletary. She suggests savers make the most of compound interest, take advantage of any employer matches and set aside 15% of gross income annually.