FAIRFIELD, Iowa, November 18, 2013 — Hedge funds gained 1.80% in October, according to the Barclay Hedge Fund Index compiled by BarclayHedge. The Index is up 9.15% year to date.
“Investors correctly anticipated that a deal would be worked out to resolve the partial US government shutdown and debt ceiling debate," says Sol Waksman, founder and president of BarclayHedge.
Fifteen of Barclay’s 18 hedge fund indices had gains in October. Equity Long Bias gained 2.58%, European Equities were up 2.48%, Emerging Markets gained 2.22%, the Event Driven Index rose 2.11%, and Distressed Securities added 1.90%.
“Equity markets rallied again in October with the Euro Stoxx 50 Index gaining 6.04 percent and the S&P 500 rising 4.6 percent,” says Waksman.
“Although prices trended higher, 20 percent of the S&P 500 constituents posted losses and created greater dispersion of equity price movements and better trading opportunities for long/short managers.”
On the losing side, the Equity Short Bias Index was down 3.14% in October, Technology slipped 0.11%, and Merger Arbitrage gave up 0.10%.
Year to date, the Healthcare & Biotechnology Index has gained 22.26%, Pacific Rim Equities are up 19.00%, the Equity Long Bias Index has gained 17.63%, Distressed Securities have returned 13.92%, and Equity Long/Short is up 10.70%.
The Equity Short Bias Index is down 23.78% in 2013, and is close to matching the 24.12% loss recorded in 2012.
The Barclay Fund of Funds Index gained 1.27% in October, and is up 6.15% 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 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.