Geneva software company FinLab and Chicago-based Hedge Fund Research have formed an alliance to provide access to HFR's hedge fund database through FinLab's software for conducting investm

Geneva software company FinLab and Chicago-based Hedge Fund Research have formed an alliance to provide access to HFR's hedge fund database through FinLab's software for conducting investment research and analysis, PackHedge.

The entire HFR hedge fund database is available in XML, the standard data format imported and exported by PackHedge. This PackHedge-specific XML file of the HFR database is available for download from the HFR website.

'PackHedge has fast become the industry benchmark for hedge fund data management, research and analysis,' says HFR president Ken Heinz. 'It was a logical step for us to combine our efforts with FinLab.'

FinLab's chief executive, Denis de Pentheny O'Kelly, says: 'For years, our clients were limited to accessing the HFR database in MS Access format. As HFR is one of the most respected and requested hedge fund databases by PackHedge users, we are obviously pleased that clients will now be able to access HFR through PackHedge.'

Established in 1999, FinLab develops, distributes and supports the PackHedge product suite for investment research, analysis and asset allocation covering both alternative and traditional funds.

PackHedge is a set of modular software tools offering a multi-source, multi-currency qualitative and quantitative data management model. It includes data aggregation, statistical analysis and charting, a multi-dimensional query engine, pro-forma portfolio simulation, fund of funds portfolio management and customisable reporting capabilities as well as tools to manage time series imports and customisable due diligence questionnaires.

Hedge Fund Research produces the HFR Database, a commercial database of hedge fund performance, and HFR Industry Report, a quarterly review and analysis of the industry, and produces and distributes the HFRX and HFRI indices as benchmarks of fund performance.