FAIRFIELD, Iowa, June 12, 2018 — Hedge Funds were up 0.90% in May according to the Barclay Hedge Fund Index compiled by BarclayHedge, versus a 2.41% increase in the S&P 500 Total Return Index. Year to date, the Barclay Index is up 1.16%, while the S&P has gained 2.02%.
“Biotech and information technology led stock markets higher in developed economies, while emerging market equities continued lower for another month,” says Sol Waksman, founder and president of BarclayHedge.
All but two of Barclay’s 17 hedge fund indices had gains in May. Healthcare & Biotechnology jumped 4.88%, adding to a 4.95% gain in January. Technology was up 3.65%, Equity Long Bias gained 1.79%, the Event Driven Index added 1.75%, and Distressed Securities were up 1.62%.
In the loss column, Emerging Markets were down 1.28%, and the Convertible Arbitrage Index gave up 0.45%. After 14 consecutive months of gains beginning in December 2016, Emerging Markets have experienced a trend reversal with four straight months of losses.
At the end of May, 13 hedge fund indices have gains in 2018, while four have losses. The Healthcare & Biotechnology Index is currently up 8.09%, and is on track to match its 21.77% return in 2017. Technology has gained 6.82%, Distressed Securities are up 4.07%, and European Equities have gained 2.88%.
Emerging Markets have lost 1.38% year to date, Merger Arbitrage is down 1.29%, the Global Macro Index has lost 1.15%, and Pacific Rim Equities are down 1.12%.
The Barclay Fund of Funds Index gained 0.44% in May, and is up 0.80% for the year.
For a complete table of BarclayHedge Hedge Fund Index and Sub-Index numbers for May as well historical returns, click here.
Sol Waksman is an experienced media source, providing perspectives on hedge fund and managed futures trends. For more commentary or background, call 641-472-3456 or email swaksman@barclayhedge.com.
BarclayHedge is the global leader in providing independent, research-based information services to the alternative investment industry. Founded in 1985, Barclay currently maintains data on more than 6,400 hedge funds, fund of funds, and CTAs. No one has been in the business of collecting alternative investment data longer than BarclayHedge.
Institutional investors, brokerage firms, and private banks worldwide utilize BarclayHedge indices as performance benchmarks for the hedge fund and managed futures industries.