One of the fastest growing investment sectors ever seen, hedge funds are considered by many to be exotic and inaccessible. This book provides an intensive learning experience, defining hedge funds, explaining hedge fund strategies while offering both qualitative and quantitative tools that investors need to access these types of funds. Topics not usually covered in discussions of hedge funds are included, such as a theoretical discussion of each hedge fund strategy followed by trading examples provided by successful hedge fund managers. "This is a very good place to investigate the reality of hedge funds." ( Pensions World , October 2007) "This book is a comprehensive review covering all aspects of hedge fund trading strategies. The real-life examples are particularly insightful for a beginner. A must-read for anyone involved with the hedge fund industry." ―Narayan Y. Naik Associate Professor of Finance, Director, BNP Paribas Hedge Fund Centre "This excellent introduction to the world of hedge funds takes the reader on a tour of the wide variety of strategies employed by these often mysterious but increasingly important investment institutions. Both students and professionals will value the nicely organized presentation that combines insightful discussions with many interesting facts and figures." ―Robert Stambaugh Ronald O. Perelman Professor of Finance, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania Since the first hedge fund was launched in 1949 by Alfred Winslow Jones, the industry has grown impressively. In 2005 it reached the record size of 1.3 trillion dollars and 8000 hedge funds. Responsible for a big slice of the daily trading volumes of financial markets, hedge funds are among the top clients for brokers, given the level of trading fees they generate. The hedge fund world is a very heterogeneous one: there are hedge funds that encompass only a few people and those with trading floors bigger than soccer fields. The hedge fund world seems to be the place where the ability to generate positive uncorrelated returns resides, even though performances are not publicly disclosed. And still, this remarkable phenomenon is surrounded by an aura of mystery. Using real-life examples and case studies, this book provides an intensive learning experience, and helps readers understand the investment strategies of hedge funds showing them how they can invest to make money in an uncorrelated way with financial markets. Filippo Stefanini is the Head of Research at Eurizon AI SGR where he is responsible for analysing, selecting and monitoring hedge funds and newcits funds.  Eurizon AI SGR SpA is the alternative investment company of the banking group Intesa San Paolo and specialises in managing funds of hedge funds. He has been a lecturer in Risk Management at the University of Bergamo (Italy) since 2007. Filippo Stefanini was  the Deputy Chief Investment Officer and Head of Asset Allocation at Aletti Gestielle Alternative SGR from 2001 to mid 2008. He previously worked as a consultant for Accenture in the Asset Management and Investment Banking areas. Filippo is the author of “Investment Strategies of Hedge Funds” and “Newcits: Investing in UCITS Compliant Hedge Funds”, both published by John Wiley & Sons. He has also co-authored some Italian language books published by Il Sole 24 Ore entitled “I fondi newcits”, “Hedge Funds: strategie di investimento” and “Hedge Funds: Investire per generare rendimenti assoluti”.