The absolute return currency strategy is a systematic approach that aims to capitalize on the factors responsible for currency returns. This strategy creates an intentional exposure to proven factors that drive currency returns. Currency returns have a low correlation with conventional assets, providing additional diversification benefits.
Currency Management
Proactively managing currency risk.
What is currency management?
When institutional investors make allocations to international assets, they are exposed to exchange rate fluctuations. That currency exposure can have a large impact on realized returns. Currency management uses currency hedging and absolute return strategies to minimize the risks of currency exposure and seeks to use currency factors as a source of diversified return.
We offer a comprehensive currency management strategy and resources with experience and expertise to help your organization:
Our suite of customized currency management solutions
As a leading global currency manager, Russell Investments has deep experience meeting the needs of sophisticated institutional clients globally. Our highly knowledgeable currency specialists work alongside you to tailor a strategy that helps minimize the currency risk in your international portfolio. Supported by a disciplined and proven implementation framework, we execute using our dedicated foreign exchange (FX) trading as both an agent and fiduciary. We can help manage operational, counterparty, and settlement risk and deliver ongoing support and comprehensive performance reporting.
Currency hedging using forward exchange contracts is an effective strategy to reduce the unrewarded risk from currency exposure. A currency hedge creates positions that move in the opposite direction to the currency exposures in the underlying portfolio to help minimize risk. In a passive currency hedging program, we hedge a static percentage of the foreign currency exposure.
Dynamic currency hedging is a technique that allows the currency hedging ratio to be adjusted over time to generate greater excess returns than a passive hedge. The ratio can be modified based on currency valuations, interest rates, and other factors that affect currency returns. By adopting dynamic currency hedging, investors can enhance the risk-return outcomes of their portfolio compared to static hedging policies or no currency hedging at all.
Our FX trading platform is designed to meet your currency strategy needs. We execute trades on an agency-only basis, accessing multiple sources of liquidity with an experienced team overseeing the trading process. Our specialist FX traders actively manage the quality of execution from the portfolio level in real time, adjusting the trading strategy on an order-by-order basis in response to changing market conditions or security-specific developments. We execute trades with multiple venues, actively transacting through numerous global execution outlets with unbiased access to a broad array of liquidity sources. Our centralized FX trading platform accesses multiple banks, dealers, and streaming liquidity sources, minimizing costs via netting, crossing, and high-quality execution.
Why choose Russell Investments as your currency manager?
$2.2 T
Assets traded in 2024
110
Tradable markets
23
Traders all specializing by asset class and instrument
18.5
Trading specialist average years of experience
Source: Russell Investments. Data as of December 31, 2023 unless otherwise noted.
Recent Insights
Recent Research
Our experts work hard to solve the complex issues our clients encounter.
Our collection of research shows our dedication to solving complex investment problems.
Insights
Research
Could the trade war trigger a recession?
See what our central scenario for the U.S. economy is amid heightened trade tensions.
Read the articleEye on private credit
Where can private credit fit in an institutional portfolio?
Amid changing investor sentiment in equity and fixed income markets, is now a good time for institutions to consider allocating to private credit?
Our recent thoughtsOutsourced CIO
Doing more with the same: The power of OCIO
The budget team you've been given to manage your investment program is likely etched in stone. But the workload on your plate may be staggering. How can you make the most of your finite resources?
Read the articleCustomized Portfolio Solutions
Specialist expertise and strategies to help your team gain greater portfolio control, limit costs, reduce risk, and enhance returns.
Implementation resources
Partner with us
Get in touch with us through this form, and we'll reach out to you.
Lisa Schneider, CFA
Managing Director,
Market Leadership
855-771-2966