FAIRFIELD, Iowa, October 10, 2012 – Hedge funds gained 1.79% in September, according to the Barclay Hedge Fund Index compiled by BarclayHedge. The Index is up 5.99% year to date.
“In spite of news that highlighted continuing economic deterioration in the US, Europe, and China, investors remained in mild risk on mode,” says Sol Waksman, founder and president of BarclayHedge.
“Equity prices were higher on the month and the US dollar lost ground against the euro and the yen.”
Overall, 16 of Barclay’s 18 hedge fund indices gained ground in September.
The Barclay Emerging Markets Index was up 3.14%, Healthcare & Biotechnology gained 2.86%, Equity Long Bias added 2.64%, Pacific Rim Equities rebounded from two months of losses with a 2.52% gain, and European Equities gained 1.62%
Two hedge fund strategies had losses in September. The Equity Short Bias Index fell 4.23%, and the Merger Arbitrage Index was down 0.55%.
Equity Short Bias has lost 16.83% year to date. All other strategies tracked by BarclayHedge have had positive returns in 2012.
“Losses in the Equity Short Bias Index are close to surpassing the 18.80 percent drop in 2009, and are approaching the 23.95 percent loss we recorded back in 2003.”
The Barclay Fund of Funds Index gained 0.75% in September, and is up 3.19% in 2012.
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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.