F&C Asset Management has extended its use of SunGard's APT by implementing an extension to its suite of multi-asset class, multi-factor risk models that help enhance and expand the treatment of commodities.

F&C will be using the model as a tool to help its customers understand the risk and reward benefits of investing in commodities. SunGard’s APT is a solution for risk-based investment management decisions.

According to SunGard, APT was enhanced to improve the explanatory capabilities for investment managers interested in analyzing their commodity exposure. Using APT, F&C can now take advantage of measuring and attributing their portfolio commodity risk according to a wide range of commodities-based risk factors, as well as define commodities-based stress tests.

F&C users will also have the ability to explore the impact of shocks to commodities price factors. For example, they can view the impact of scenarios, which examine how the markets perform when the correlation of commodities to other asset classes increases. Further functionality also allows users to investigate the impact of varying their allocation to commodities on their risk budget.

Lef Sigalos, head of investment risk at F&C Asset Management, said: “Customers are demanding increased access to commodities as they see greater potential for returns, as well as the benefit of their low correlation with traditional asset classes. APT and the new commodities extension helps to provide us with an effective risk management process to manage this within a multi-asset class framework.”

Ettie Takacs, COO of APT business unit at SunGard, said: “The appetite for investing in commodities has increased over the last 12 months. APT has responded to this demand by delivering a commodities model that completes the process by helping managers understand risk and reward returns, and therefore control their exposure to commodities. F&C is one of the many customers to benefit from this development.”