Alternative Investments

Alternative investments cover a wide range of assets from commodities such as wine, paintings, antiques and gold to buy-to-let property, venture capital and even natural resources.

Gold has been one alternative investment that has seen huge growth in its value over the last ten years. Alternative investments provide different investment strategies to traditional forms of investing such as buying shares, bonds and stocks.

Alternative investments in painting and antiques are considered more stable than investment products traded in more volatile areas such as financial and commodity markets and they allow investors to enjoy their investments as well as maximise returns.

	What are alternative investments? Simon Greenspan, former futures trader at Tullett Brown, explains the concept of Alternative Investments and why they are so important to a diverse portfolio.
	Alternative investments: What are the best options? If stocks and shares don't look attractive to you and you are put off by the low rate of savings accounts and ISA's, there are alternatives that can give good returns on your investment.
	Alternative investments An alternative investment is an investment in a product that is not traded on a public exchange or in a traditional savings account.
	Alternative investments: Art, antiques, wine and anything odd? With falls in the stock market and savings rates sitting next to zero investors are looking at areas normally thought of as a little bit wacky.
	Is social lending a creditable alternative? Do social lending and peer-to-peer lending companies offer a better alternative to traditional saving and borrowing providers and what are the potential pitfalls?