Alternative investment manager CQS has launched a Global Volatility Fund with an initial size of $160 million.

The US dollar denominated absolute return fund is targeting net annual returns in excess of 15 per cent. It will focus primarily on the volatility of equity market indices and of individual equities within the world’s major stock markets, aiming to profit from valuation anomalies in equity volatility and from dislocations in markets.  

The firm believes that equity market volatility provides a consistent opportunity set to capture profits for investors.

Andrew Song and Amir Kooros, senior portfolio managers, will lead a team of nine derivative investment professionals. They will be supported by CQS’ trading and risk management systems and infrastructure and control platform in London, Hong Kong and New York.