To say that 2020 has been quite a year would be an understatement. However, alongside with the obvious challenges that have risen due to COVID-19, there have been highlights and successes too. We reflect back on the year that has passed and look ahead as to what we can expect for 2021.
At the start of the year, we shared how we continue to be a leader and innovator in the prime broker market and have been focusing on our services that are specifically designed to appeal to smaller clients who are not able to gain access to a Tier One provider. Whilst some of competitors closed their prime broker service to clients in the first half of the year, we have been able to stay strong and continue to provide our clients with services. Later on in the year, we were proud to announce an integration with Sterling Trading Tech, a leader in compliance, risk and infrastructure solutions for equity, options and futures trading. The integration allows for European-based clients to access US Asset classes, which mutually strengthens the offering for both STT and Linear. We are looking forward to how this integration will help us move from strength to strength in the future.
Our Discretionary Fund Management team have been continuing to explore opportunities within both the active and passive space. One of the questions consequential to COVID19 had been how the economy will recover. In light of this, there has been greater discussions surrounding ESG investments and a ‘green recovery’. Whilst Linear has been working within the ESG space before the onset of the pandemic, we recognise the importance of funds that fall under this category and have launched a new ESG portfolio product this year. As we move into 2021, we expect to see a greater focus on ESG investments and will continue to monitor how best to translate this into our model portfolios.
Another addition to the firm’s focus this year includes Property Development which is headed up by Victoria Farrar. The decision to expand our offering to property investments was due to the fact they can make money through appreciation, rental income and profits created by any business activities that take place on the property. It can be advantageous as it can provide stable and passive income and diversification to a portfolio.
In the second half of 2020, we joined The Hedge Funds Club which is an Asia-Pacific focused industry network. We are proud to be contributing thought leadership towards this network and following the activity within the region.
Linear Investments pivoted to a fully remote working environment in March of this year, and we are now moving towards a hybrid set up that allows our staff to work in the way that suits them and our clients best. Our team responded to the challenges of remote work well during the initial lockdown period and we have been really proud of their resilience and enthusiasm. We acknowledge and recognise the IT challenges of working in a hybrid environment, however we are proud to reassure our clients that our trade surveillance is uninterrupted and we have taken the steps to create a security policy. As we move into the new year, we will be working hard as a firm to deliver the best level of service to our clients, after taking the steps to adjust to our new working normal. We wish all of our clients the very best for the new year ahead.