Alternative investment is a term typically used by investors to describe investments other than stocks and bonds. Strategies commonly classified as alternative investments include private equity, leveraged buy-out (LBO) funds, arbitrage strategies, hedge strategies, and “event driven” strategies. Some people also classify real estate and venture capital in the alternative investment category. The benefits of alternative investments include potentially higher returns, reduced volatility, diversification benefits resulting from low correlation with other investments, and in some cases more liquidity than some other investments like real estate and venture capital.

Will Also Design Battery and Hybrid Transmission Development In-House
Ford, who just unveiled the new Focus, has also announced that it would invest an additional $450 million in its Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Michigan (formerly a SUV plant). That’s on top of $550 million already invested to turn that plant into a factory for the new Focus and Electric Focus. On top of this, Ford must have realized that it will very soon be a big competitive advantage to have its own battery and hybrid transmission technology, so they’ve decided to bring that development in-house.