With the launch, the firm hopes to provide investors with more transparent, liquid and cost-efficient alternative strategies.

The two funds will be complemented by a new product later on and will offer diversification benefits to institutional and private clients. The funds are part of Harcourt’s new product line called "Research-Driven Strategies", which are opposed to traditional funds, in which performance is based on fluctuations in asset classes such as equities and bonds.

The Pure Momentum Strategy invests primarily in liquid asset classes such as equities and fixed income, while the Pure Dividend Strategy invests globally in companies with higher-than-expected average dividend yields with the aim to provide stable returns during times of low interest rates.

Both funds are actively managed, with investments made strictly according to rule-based methodologies. Consequently, the funds aim to achieve a risk-adjusted return exceeding the 3-months LIBOR by 3 to 5 per cent.

As of 30 June 2013, Harcourt manages assets in excess of CHF3.4 billion.