FAIRFIELD, Iowa, August 22, 2016 — Managed futures traders gained 0.37% in July according to the Barclay CTA Index compiled by BarclayHedge. The Index is up 2.12% year to date.
“July’s global equity rally proved to be the major source of profits for many CTA portfolios,” says Sol Waksman, founder and president of BarclayHedge.
Five of Barclay’s eight CTA indices had positive returns in July. The Diversified Traders Index gained 0.73%, Systematic Traders were up 0.50%, and Financial/Metals Traders gained 0.24%.
“On the commodity side, long precious metals and short energy positions were profitable, but overall profits were eaten up by losses in the Ag markets.”
The Agricultural Traders Index was down 0.88% in July, Currency Traders lost 0.60%, and Discretionary Traders gave up 0.51%.
“Currency traders were positioned for continued strength in the US Dollar, but were caught out in July as the Dollar weakened against the Euro, Swiss Franc and the Chinese Yuan,” says Waksman.
Year to date, the Financial/Metals Traders Index is up 3.09%, Diversified Traders have gained 2.91%, Systematic Traders are up 2.77%, and Currency Traders have gained 1.57%.
At the end of seven months, Agricultural Traders are down 1.65%, and the Discretionary Traders Index has lost 1.34%.
The Barclay BTOP50 Index, which measures performance of the largest CTAs, gained 1.46% in July.
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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 6,300 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.