Managed futures funds posted a positive month in February gaining 1.76%, according to the Barclay CTA Index, compiled by BarclayHedge, a division of Backstop Solutions. For the year to date, CTAs returned 1.68% through the end of February.
“Signs of economic recovery coupled with the prospects for passage of a $1.9 trillion covid relief bill in the U.S. Senate fed investor hopes and prompted gains in equity and commodity markets,” said Sol Waksman, president of BarclayHedge. “Global stock indices rose to new all-time highs, crude oil and copper made multi-year highs and the uptrend in crop prices that began last summer extended for another month.”
All but one of the sectors tracked in the Barclay CTA Indices were in the black in February. The Cryptocurrency Traders Index set the pace for the month gaining 33.16% while the Diversified Traders Index advanced 2.78% and the MPI Barclay Elite Systematic Traders Index returned 2.51%. Other gainers included the Systematic Traders Index, up 1.93%, and the Discretionary Traders Index, returning 1.46%.
The lone outlier for the month was the Currency Traders Index, down 0.20%.
For the year to date, the Cryptocurrency Traders Index was up 72.83% through the end of February, the Diversified Traders Index gained 2.86%, the Discretionary Traders Index advanced 2.43%, the Agricultural Traders Index returned 1.88% and the MPI Barclay Elite Systematic Traders Index was up 1.60%.
Losing ground for the year were the Currency Traders Index, down 0.59%, and the Financial & Metals Traders Index, losing 0.39%.
The Barclay BTOP50 Index, which tracks the performance of the largest CTAs that are open for new investment, gained 2.86% in February. For the year to date, the BTOP50 is up 1.83%.
For a complete table of Barclay CTA Index results as well as historical data, click here.
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Backstop’s mission is to help the institutional investment industry use time to its fullest potential. We develop technology to simplify and streamline otherwise time-consuming tasks and processes, enabling our clients to quickly and easily access, share and manage the knowledge that’s critical to their day-to-day business success. Backstop provides its industry-leading cloud-based productivity suite to investment consultants, pensions, funds of funds, family offices, endowments, foundations, private equity, hedge funds and real estate investment firms.
BarclayHedge, a division of Backstop, currently maintains data on more than 7,100 hedge funds, funds of funds and CTAs. The BarclayHedge Indices are utilized by institutional investors, brokerage firms and private banks worldwide as performance benchmarks for the hedge fund and managed futures industries.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Sol Waksman
BarclayHedge
division of Backstop Solutions Group
(641) 472-3456