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FAIRFIELD, Iowa, June 21, 2017 — Hedge funds gained 0.50% in May according to the Barclay Hedge Fund Index compiled by BarclayHedge. The Index is up 4.13% in 2017.
The Barclay Hedge Fund Index has now been profitable for seven months in a row, with a cumulative gain of 6.10%. The Barclay Technology Index has gained 12.27% in the first five months of 2017, its strongest start in 18 years.
“Concerns based on weak retail sales, two consecutive monthly declines in consumer confidence, and uncertainty over Trump’s ability to deliver on infrastructure spending and tax cut plans drove investors to the safety of bonds,” says Sol Waksman, founder and president of BarclayHedge. “Those concerns, however, were not enough to keep the global equity rally from extending into a seventh month of consecutive gains.”
Thirteen hedge fund indices had gains in May. The Technology Index jumped 3.14%, European Equities gained 1.74%, Pacific Rim Equities were up 1.07%, Merger Arbitrage gained 0.94%, and the Equity Long/Short Index added 0.93%.
“Led by tech stocks, the S&P 500 and NASDAQ made new all-time highs in May,” says Waksman. “Markets in Europe and Asia also moved higher.”
Four indices lost ground in May. Healthcare & Biotechnology gave up 1.85%, Equity Market Neutral lost 0.96%, and Distressed Securities were down 0.66%.
Year to date, all of Barclay’s 17 hedge fund indices have a positive return in 2017. Following the 12.27% gain by the Technology Index, Emerging Markets are up 8.08%, Healthcare and Biotechnology has gained 6.29%, European Equities are up 6.16%, and Equity Long Bias has gained 4.61%.
The Barclay Fund of Funds Index was up 0.31% in May, and has gained 2.80% in 2017.
Click here to view five years of Barclay Hedge Fund Index data, or to download 20 years of monthly data.
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 is the global leader in providing independent, research-based information services to the alternative investment industry. Founded in 1985, Barclay currently maintains data on more than 6,400 hedge funds, fund of funds, and CTAs. No one has been in the business of collecting alternative investment data longer than BarclayHedge.
Institutional investors, brokerage firms, and private banks worldwide utilize BarclayHedge indices as performance benchmarks for the hedge fund and managed futures industries.
