Alternative assets

Alternative or non-traditional assets are investments other than shares or bonds. They are called ‘alternative’ because they represent an alternative to traditional assets such as shares or bonds. The term can cover anything from property and commodities to infrastructure investments, for example, covering green energy, or leasing businesses which specialise in aeroplanes or plant and machinery. We use alternative assets to help diversify a portfolio, as some of these investments are not expected to move in tandem with more conventional investments for much of the time.