Hedge fund managers are increasingly mimicking venture-capital firms and investing in private companies, data from Goldman Sachs Prime Services show. The total value of their investments in the sector during the first half of this year reached a record $153 billion spread across 770 deals against $96 billion involving some 753 deals during the whole of last year.

Proposals from US lawmakers to impose tougher oversight on family offices in the wake of the events at Archegos Capital Management risks regulatory overreach, writes Bill Woodson. Among the flaws in the argument for stricter regulation, he argues, is that family offices are effectively private individuals, while excess regulation could restrict charitable giving.

Hedge funds defied headwinds from the geopolitical, fiscal and pandemic-related headwinds during August to regain ground lost during July to leave the HFRI Equity Hedge (Total) Index 1.2% ahead, the latest data from Hedge Fund Research shows. HFR president Kenneth Heinz says the performance data underscores not only the sector's ability to generate returns but also its "tactical flexibility to quickly identify and monetize opportunities."

Delays under successive US administrations have allowed private-equity firms and hedge funds to fall outside the scope of stricter anti-money laundering rules brought in following the 9/11 attacks.

Asian pension funds' exposure to alternative asset classes registered a modest 0.6% increase between 2019 and 2020, a new report from consultancy Mercer shows. Among the reasons for the slow rate of diversification into the sector compared with funds in Europe is drag from the global pandemic and difficulties recruiting suitably qualified personnel.