FAIRFIELD, Iowa, June 15, 2010– Hedge funds lost 3.09% in May according to the Barclay Hedge Fund Index compiled by BarclayHedge.
“Fear was in the driver’s seat in May as investor worries about a liquidity crisis in Europe and a ‘double-dip’ recession in the US drove global equity prices lower,” says Sol Waksman, founder and president of BarclayHedge.
The Barclay Emerging Markets Index dropped 5.19%, Equity Long Bias lost 4.75%, European Equities fell 3.71%, Pacific Rim Equities were down 3.59%, and the Equity Long/Short Index lost 3.09%.
“All of the MSCI Developed Market country indexes lost ground during the month,” says Waksman. “And all but one of the Emerging Market indexes was down as well. Peruvian equities were the only winner in the emerging markets sector in May.”
Only one of Barclay’s 18 hedge fund indices had a gain in May. The Barclay Equity Short Bias Index jumped 7.60%, taking advantage of the widespread equity market losses.
“As of today, 85 percent of the hedge funds that have submitted their May return have reported a loss,” says Waksman.
The Barclay Fund of Funds Index lost 2.81% in May, and is down 0.59% year-to-date.
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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 was founded in 1985 and actively tracks more than 5,800 hedge funds, funds of hedge funds, and managed futures programs. Barclay has created and regularly updates 18 proprietary hedge fund indices and eight managed futures indices.
Institutional investors, brokerage firms and private banks worldwide utilize BarclayHedge indices as performance benchmarks for the hedge fund and managed futures industries.