There’s no mystery involved: computers have not taken over the investment process, and it still takes a creative and efficient human portfolio manager to make the most of quantitative data. Many imagine quantitative investment managers as rather mysterious boffins working under the direction of an all-powerful computer model. This “black-box” stereotype has little in common with reality and offers no insight into the factors that differentiate the best “quant” managers from the mediocre.

Style investment strategies, which revolve around the monitoring of distinct market segments, depend on quantitative analysis of the underlying stocks. The continuing recovery of European stock markets is increasing investors’ appetite for equities, but a residual uncertainty is preventing a herd-like rush back into stocks. Style investment strategies, where managers swap from “value” to “growth” companies depending on market conditions, are gaining in popularity in line with this renewed interest towards stock markets.

Quantitative analysis provides a powerful tool for identifying investment opportunities and for suggesting how to best structure a global portfolio: it’s all about picking the winners across countries and across industries.