Four trades for a bumpy ride: GARS prepares for a volatile September

The managers of Standard Life Investment's giant £18bn Global Absolute Return Strategies fund have put in place four key trades ahead of an expected uptick in volatility in September, which they expect to benefit investors into 2014.

The giant £18bn Global Absolute Return Strategies fund has been one of the industry's biggest success stories since its launch in January 2008. Investors have flocked to the fund, a portfolio of over 30 long and short strategies in equities, bonds, currency and alternatives. The fund has returned 42.4% over the last five years, nearly double the 22% average of the IMA Targeted Absolute Return sector.  Such is the success of the strategy that a number of its team members have been poached by rivals keen to launch similar funds, with Euan Munro enticed by Aviva Investors. David Mi...