Barclay Hedge Fund Index Up 0.46% in March; Hedge Funds Outperform S&P in First Quarter

FAIRFIELD, Iowa, April 21, 2015 — Hedge funds were up 0.46% in March, according to the Barclay Hedge Fund Index compiled by BarclayHedge. The Index is up 2.57% through the end of the first quarter, versus a return of 0.95% for the S&P 500.

“Prices for risk assets declined in March as the headwinds fomented by weaker than expected consumer spending and durable goods orders, together with a strengthening US Dollar, drove equities and commodities lower,” says Sol Waksman, founder and president of BarclayHedge.

Overall, 16 of Barclay’s 18 hedge fund indices had gains in March. The Healthcare & Biotechnology Index was up 1.71%, European Equities gained 1.15%, the Equity Market Neutral Index was up 1.12%, and Global Macro rose 1.10%.

On the losing side, the Equity Short Bias Index was down 0.80%, and the Technology Index lost 0.37%. Equity Short bias has lost 4.05% year to date.

At the end of the first quarter in 2015, Healthcare & Biotechnology has gained 8.28%, European Equities have gained 4.14%, Global Macro is up 3.99%, Equity Long/Short has gained 2.85%, Equity Long Bias is up 2.60%, and the Multi Strategy Index has added 2.55%.

The Barclay Fund of Funds Index gained 0.66% in March, and is up 2.69% for the year.

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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 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 6,100 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.