Macquarie Bank's structured products and hedge fund business, MQ Specialist Investment Management, will give retail investors the opportunity to invest in water utilities and global equities.
The MQ Gateway platform which, has been developed through feedback from financial advisers, will allow investors to access customised investment opportunities in these asset classes.
"Water is a very hot topic, but up until now has been very difficult to access this type of investment particularly as there are not enough fund managers out there investing in water," Macquarie equity markets group division director Cathy Kovacs said.
Exposure to the water asset class will be done through the Macquarie Global Water Index.
The platform will give investors the opportunity to hedge their investments through the 'best of' option.
"Investors who'd like to gain exposure to the potential growth in the Japanese equity market, but don't want to miss out on the Australian equity market if it happens to perform better over a three year period," Kovacs said.
Two financial groups have already secured first round access to the emerging markets and commodity investment opportunities including Freeman Fox. Kovacs was unable to confirm the name of the other group.
"We will be looking to increase the investment opportunities following further advice from our financial planners and internal research team," Kovacs said.
