FAIRFIELD, Iowa, June 19, 2012– Managed futures gained 2.64% in May according to the Barclay CTA Index compiled by BarclayHedge. The Index is up 1.92% year-to-date.
“The risk-off trade which started to gain momentum in April moved into high gear in May, allowing CTAs that were properly positioned to have a profitable month,” says Sol Waksman, founder and president of BarclayHedge.
“Signs of slowing in the US and China, coupled with fears of financial contagion in Europe, drove prices for equities and commodities sharply lower while the US dollar and bond prices in ‘safe’ countries rallied strongly.”
Six of Barclay’s eight CTA indices had gains in May. The Diversified Traders Index and the Systematic Traders Index both jumped 3.47%, Financial & Metals Traders were up 2.26%, and Currency Traders added 1.57%.
“The profitable trends in May were set in motion in April, giving diversified and systematic traders ample opportunity to get onboard,” says Waksman.
“The Barclay Diversified Traders Index and Systemic Traders Index both recorded respectable gains in May, and now have a small positive return year-to-date.”
On the losing side, the Agricultural Traders Index was down 2.03%, and Discretionary Traders gave up 0.79% in May.
“When markets become over-extended, discretionary traders oftentimes lose out, whereas these conditions present a more profitable scenario for systematic traders,” says Waksman
The Barclay BTOP50 Index, which measures performance of the largest CTAs, gained 1.84% in May. The BTOP50 is now up 1.13% for the year.
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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 6,200 hedge funds, funds of hedge funds, and managed futures programs. Each month Barclay provides updated performance rankings for 38 Hedge Fund categories, 16 CTA categories, and 7 UCITS categories.
Institutional investors, brokerage firms, and private banks worldwide utilize BarclayHedge indices as performance benchmarks for the hedge fund and managed futures industries.