.svg)
FAIRFIELD, Iowa, May 5, 2006 - Hedge funds gained 2.05% in April, based on flash estimates for the Barclay Hedge Fund Index. The Index has shown positive returns in 11 of the past 12 months, gaining nearly 18%.
"Directional strategies such as Emerging Markets and Global Macro continue to provide impetus to overall hedge fund returns," says Sol Waksman, founder and president of The Barclay Group.
"Most Emerging Market equity indexes had solid gains in April. Macro funds were able to profit from opportunities presented by rising U.S. interest rates, a weakening U.S. Dollar, and strong price gains in precious and industrial metals."
In April, 17 of Barclay's 18 hedge fund indexes were in positive territory. Barclay's Emerging Markets Index jumped 4.66% and is up 14.97% in 2006, continuing this sector's strong bullish performance from 2005.
Barclay's Global Macro Index was up 4.02%, Distressed Securities gained 3.76%, Equity Long/Short rose 1.96%, and Equity Long Bias Index gained 2.01%.
"Reports of historically low default rates helped to improve returns for Distressed Securities funds," says Waksman. "Investor perception of reduced risk in the sector has driven prices higher."
Only Equity Short Bias lost ground, down 0.85% in April and -4.82% for the year.
Click here to view ten years of Barclay Hedge Fund Index data.
Sol Waksman, an experienced media source, provides perspectives on hedge fund and managed futures trends. For more commentary, call Sol at 641-472-3456 or email sol@barclayhedge.com.
The Barclay Group, founded in 1985, actively tracks more than 5,300 hedge funds and managed futures programs. Barclay has created and regularly updates 18 proprietary hedge fund indexes and eight managed futures indexes.
Institutional investors, brokerage firms and private banks worldwide utilize Barclay's indexes as performance benchmarks for the hedge fund and managed futures industries.
