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The article reports that the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) is scrutinizing liquid alternative funds and suggesting mechanisms to mitigate structural risks. It is reported that alternative mutual funds are a fast-growing part of the investment space, pushed by asset management companies that are suffering from the larger secular shift away from active and higher-priced management toward index funds.

The article reports that with fund flows rising, investors are being attracted by the solid performance of activist funds in 2015. It is noted that activist strategies are up about six percent year-to-date and there are currently about 70 activist funds out of a total of 10,149 hedge funds. According to Aaron Gilman, president and chief investment officer of Independent Financial Partners Wealth Management, particularly in the 1980s, activist funds had a bad rapport.

The article offers information on the status of real estate investment trust (REIT) in the U.S. as of 2015. It discusses factors that influence REIT such as monetary policy, investments and investors, and interest rates. Also mentioned the views of Steve Wurble, chief investment officer of investment management research company FoliMetrix, regarding the economic impact of REIT sector.

The article focuses on the impact of declining energy prices on the emerging markets in the U.S. The MSCI Emerging Markets Index-the benchmark index decline by 1.82 percent in 2014 and the Bloomberg Commodities Index decline by 17 percent due to declining crude-oil values. It further discusses quantitative easing by the European Central Bank.

The article offers information on the bond managers who continue to beat the market showing good results in income. It offers information on Brad Friedlander, who build the fund worth 3.3 billion dollars in assets. It mentions that James McAlevey of Henderson Unconstrained Bond Fund (HUNAX), made 21 percent of corporate high-yield and corporate investment.

The article forecasts the long-term gains of the U.S. dollar after its weak start in 2014 due to an improving U.S. economy and evolving monetary policy and the asset-purchase program by Federal Reserve. It discusses the efforts of European Central Bank (ECB) and the Bank of Japan (BOJ) to boost their economies and the views of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and ECB President Mario Draghi. It further mentions that need of currency divergence funds to be treated as speculative investments.

The article discusses the trend on water investments in the U.S. It offers tips from several notable people in the industry including Croft-Leominster Investment Management portfolio manager Kent Croft, Hackett Financial Advisors Inc. president Shawn Hackett and Custom Portfolio Group LLC president David Twibell. They suggest investors to either invest in water utility companies like American States Water (AWR), water infrastructure and exchange traded funds (ETFs).

The article reports that the auction prices for high-quality and rare whiskies have increased from 10 years ago. The market has matured to make whisky a viable alternative investment. Andy Simpson, rare whisky consultant and founder of Whisky Highland, runs the Investment Grade Scotch index. The bulk of the investment market is concentrated on the Scottish producers.

The article focuses on the production and export of natural gas in the U.S. It states that U.S. based energy companies has improved their ability to extract and distribute natural gas. It further mentions the approval of fourth liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminal by the U.S. Department of Energy to Dominion Cove in September 2013.

The article focuses on the financial state of farmlands in the U.S. Farmland prices grew by about 20% in 2011 due to rising food demand from China and emerging markets, and rising application of corn-based ethanol as a fuel additive in the U.S. Corn remains as the best crop in the U.S., where the U.S. Department of Agriculture forecasted a 95.9 million acres to be cultivated for corn and output of 14.5 million bushels in 2012.

The article explores whether commodities can make a comeback after a poor performance in 2011. The author believes commodities should not have a starring role in the portfolio early in 2012, but deserve a supporting part. The author claims investors could have an opportunity to purchase commodity-related funds and stocks at lower prices in coming months if some of the recent global concerns continues. The author adds that commodities should be part of any portfolio to provide diversity.

The article discusses the popularity of master-limited partnerships among socially responsible investors who prefer to invest in the renewable energy industry in the U.S. It highlights the increase risk of debt due to the slowdown of energy investment. It also cites the development of long-term renewable energy projects.

The article offers information on the viability of investing in crude oil. Topics include the impact of the worldwide decline in crude oil prices on the U.S. energy industry, exposure for money managers in the Market Vectors Oil Services exchange traded fund, and the decrease in the share price of multinational energy firm iShares Global Energy. It also discusses the volatility of the oil industry despite the global economic recovery.

Reports that the Chicago Board of Trade March 1996 wheat contract rallied to a record-high $7.50 on its expiration day, March 20, 1996. Trade in corn and soybeans.