Next up, Joanne Hill, head of investment strategy at ProShares, stated that investors should include alternative assets to improve the return-risk profile or diversification, to manage equity risk, to manage interest rate or inflation risks and to manage exposure to the various asset classes.
She also highlighted VIX related ETFs as an alternative tool to mitigate risks and boost returns within portfolios. However, the CBOE Volatility Index, or VIX, is currently hovering around 15, or near its historical average, which suggests greater complacency within the markets. [Leveraged VIX ETFs Tumble Over 95% This Year]
In mid-day during a panel on alternative assets beyond long/short strategies, Sean Clark, the CIO at Clark Capital Management Group, forecast gold will hit new highs due to devaluing currencies on the unprecedented global central bank printing spree. Gold futures currently sit just under $1,800 an ounce. [Gold ETFs Eye 2011 High on Central Bank Stimulus]
For more information on past conferences, visit our ETF conferences category.