Hedge funds surrender 2011 gains
Hedge funds posted their largest monthly declines since May 2010 in August, with the HFRI Fund Weighted Composite Index declining by -2.3 percent, according to data released today by HFR. With the August losses, year-to-date performance for the broad based composite index now stands at -1.2 percent. For the month, 29 percent of all constituents reported positive performance, while 45 percent of all constituents are positive year-to-date (YTD) through August.
Hedge funds, as well as broader financial markets, were negatively impacted by the combination of continued and accelerating concerns relating to the European sovereign debt crisis, the debate surrounding the US debt ceiling, the downgrade of US Treasury securities, and evidence of general economic and employment weakness in the US.
The weakest areas of hedge fund strategy performance in August included Equity Hedge and Event Driven strategies, which declined by -4.1 and -3.7 percent, respectively. Both strategies posted their 4th consecutive month of negative returns, the longest drawdown since the Financial Crisis of 2008, and were significantly impacted by declines across major global equity markets ranging from -4 to -15 percent. Funds maintaining a dedicated Short Bias posted gains of +6.9 percent in August, the 4th consecutive month of gains for such funds.
Macro strategies posted negatively correlated gains for the month, with the HFRI Macro (Total) Index posting a narrow gain of +0.1 percent, while the HFRI Macro: Systematic Diversified Index gained +0.9 percent in August. Macro funds were impacted by a wide range of volatile influences, with both long and short positioning having significant contributions to performance. Systematic Macro funds generally posted gains in gold and US fixed income, with mixed Macro performance across other commodities, currencies (notably Swiss Franc and Japanese Yen) and equities.
Relative Value Arbitrage funds posted a decline of -1.2 percent in August, only the 3rd monthly decline for this strategy since December 2008. The HFRI Relative Value Arbitrage Index is the only strategy index with positive YTD performance, posting a gain of +1.9 percent through August. Fund of Hedge Funds posted declines of -2.0 percent for the month, while Emerging Markets hedge funds declined of -4.7 percent. Performance of underlying HFRI constituent funds is available via access to the HFR Database.
“The volatile environment for hedge funds in August exhibited certain similarities to the Financial Crisis of 2008, but exposed key differences, with significant implications for both investors and hedge fund managers,” stated Kenneth J. Heinz, President of HFR Inc. “Similar to 2008, Equity and Credit sensitive strategies were the weakest area of performance while Macro Systematic funds were tactically positioned for the volatile environment. In contrast, however, financial markets maintained liquidity in August, with risk dynamics concentrated in developed market sovereign credit and employment, as opposed to 2008, when the overhang of excessive levels of private consumer and mortgage debt were the primary catalysts.”
About HFR
HFR (Hedge Fund Research, Inc.) is the global leader in the alternative investment industry. Established in 1992, HFR specializes in the areas of indexation and analysis of hedge funds. HFR Database, the most comprehensive resource available for hedge fund investors, includes fund-level detail on historical performance and assets, as well as firm characteristics on both the broadest and most influential hedge fund managers. HFR has developed the industry’s most detailed fund classification system, enabling granular and specific queries for relative performance measurement, peer group analysis and benchmarking.
HFR produces over 100 indices of hedge fund performance ranging from industry-aggregate levels down to specific, niche areas of sub-strategy and regional investment focus. With performance dating back to 1990, the HFRI Fund Weighted Composite Index is the industry’s most widely used standard benchmark of hedge fund performance globally. The HFR suite of Analysis Products leverages the HFR Database to provide detailed, current, comprehensive and relevant aggregate reference points on all facets of the hedge fund industry. HFR also offers consulting services for clients seeking customized top-level or more nuanced analysis. For the hedge fund industry’s leading investors and hedge fund managers, Hedge Fund Research is The Institutional Standard.
