Alternatives can include real estate, physical commodities (including oil, gold and copper), and infrastructure (such as bridges, toll roads and utilities networks), multi-strategy funds, and hedge funds. These investing strategies have the potential to add a diversifying return stream. At certain points in history, the value of alternatives has been driven by aggregate price rises, so at times they may offer investors some protection from unanticipated inflation. Alternatives are sourced and consumed globally, adding to the global diversification of the portfolio.