BlackRock Launches Three Alternative Mutual Funds

BlackRock says the funds are designed to provide individual investors with access to strategies that offer non-correlated returns and diversification benefits with the goal of minimizing portfolio volatility and preserving return objectives.

The three new funds are: 

• BlackRock Commodity Strategies Fund (BCSAX): designed to provide investors with complete commodities exposure through commodities futures equities with exposure to natural resources. The Fund will be managed by a team of portfolio managers led by Evy Hambro and Robin Batchelor, joint Chief Investment Officers of the Natural Resources Equity Team and members of the Global Index Commodities Team. 
• BlackRock Emerging Markets Long/Short Equity Fund (BLSAX): fundamentally based and scientifically implemented and uses advanced techniques to identify mis-valuations across stocks and markets in a risk controlled manner. Jeff Shen, Ph.D., Head of Asia Pacific and Emerging Market Equity within BlackRock’s Scientific Active Equity Group, will be the lead portfolio manager of the Fund. 
• BlackRock Global Long/Short Credit Fund (BGCAX): an interest rate neutral, global long/short credit fund seeking to generate total returns from credit markets. Michael Phelps, head of European Credit, and Joshua Tarnow, member of the Corporate Credit Group within the firm’s Fundamental Fixed Income team, will co-manage the Fund. 

The funds will be available to the firm’s retail and high net worth investors through financial intermediaries.