Financial science and our understanding of what drives asset prices have evolved considerably. The implications on the financial services industry have also been significant, including the introduction of passive index funds, single-factor and multi-factor strategies. Recent studies have highlighted that the rise in indexing has been driven by asset class segment, or non-total market index funds.
While index-based strategies offer transparency in exposures, any non-total market index involves active decision making in both design and ongoing execution.
During this session attendees will:
-Examine some of the similarities and differences in how indices define asset classes and manage reconstitution -Contemplate whether factor-building has been overdone, and examine the risks of becoming too factor focused -Highlight some of the constraints these decisions can place on index trackers -Propose how a systematic approach can deliver benefits commonly associated with indexing while removing artificial constraints.
