.svg)
FAIRFIELD, Iowa, June 17, 2010– Managed futures lost 0.77% in May according to the Barclay CTA Index compiled by BarclayHedge.
“The slowing of growth in China, fears of a double-dip recession in the US, and a European liquidity crisis precipitated a sharp decline in global equity prices,” says Sol Waksman, founder and president of BarclayHedge.
Three of Barclay’s six managed futures sectors had losses in May, while the other three sectors made gains. The Barclay Diversified Traders Index was down 1.31%, Systematic Traders lost 0.67%, and Discretionary Traders slid 0.57%.
“The Reuters-CRB Commodity Index fell by more than eight percent during May as deflationary concerns drove prices of economically sensitive commodities lower,” says Waksman.
On the positive side, the Barclay Currency Traders Index gained 0.79% in May, Financial & Metals Traders were up 0.70%, and Agricultural Traders gained 0.67%.
“As investor enthusiasm for risk receded, the ensuing ‘flight to quality’ drove up prices for US Treasuries, precious metals, and the US Dollar,” says Waksman.
The largest managed futures funds fell the furthest in May, losing 2.37% as measured by the Barclay BTOP50 Index.
Click here to view 30 years of Barclay CTA Index data.
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 indexes and eight managed futures indexes.
Institutional investors, brokerage firms and private banks worldwide utilize Barclay’s data as performance benchmarks for the hedge fund and managed futures industries.
