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“The hedge fund industry raked in $28.7 billion in January and February, an 83% jump from $15.7 billion in the same period last year,” said Sol Waksman, president and founder of BarclayHedge.
Industry assets climbed to a 5–1/2 year high of $2.2 trillion in February, according to estimates based on data from 3,374 funds. Assets rose 18% in the past 12 months but are down 11% from the all-time high of $2.4 trillion in June 2008.
The monthly TrimTabs/BarclayHedge Hedge Fund Flow Report noted that the hedge fund industry delivered a return of 1.9% in February, recovering from January’s 0.4% loss but substantially underperforming the S&P 500, which gained 4.6%. In the past 12 months, the industry returned 10.0%, while the S&P 500 gained 24.5%.
Equity Long Bias hedge funds, the best-performing category in the past 12 months, rebounded in February. “Equity Long Bias funds gained 3.0% in February, the best return in five months and a healthy recovery from January’s 0.8% loss,” Waksman said.
The monthly TrimTabs/BarclayHedge Survey of Hedge Fund Managers finds hedge fund managers turned a bit more upbeat on U.S. stocks in March. More than half are bullish on the U.S. dollar, no doubt responding to the Federal Reserve’s plan to dial back on monetary stimulus. Just under half of managers expect stocks to outperform bonds and precious metals over the next six months.
The TrimTabs/BarclayHedge database tracks hedge fund flows on a monthly basis. The TrimTabs/BarclayHedge Hedge Fund Flow Report provides detailed analysis of these flows as well as relevant topical studies. Click here for further information.
BarclayHedge is a leading hedge fund data vendor and one of the foremost sources for proprietary research in the field of alternative investments. From its origin as a research specialist and performance measurement firm, BarclayHedge has developed complete client services as a publisher, database and software provider, and industry consultant.
TrimTabs Investment Research is the only independent research service that publishes detailed daily coverage of U.S. stock market liquidity--including mutual fund flows and exchange-traded fund flows--as well as weekly withheld income and employment tax collections. Founded by Charles Biderman, TrimTabs has provided institutional investors with trading strategies since 1990. For more information, please visit us here.
