A blueprint for alternative data in asset management

UBS Asset Management’s data chief describes how alternative data can aid the investment process

Understanding and implementing alternative data is a difficult task – but it’s an increasingly important one for asset management firms. If properly applied, such data can provide unique insights into economies, sections and companies beyond mere earnings and market information.

Traditional data can be broadly defined as company-specific information, or market data that is aggregated, harmonised and provisioned by data vendors such as Bloomberg, or exchanges such as the NYSE. Alternative data