The Eurekahedge Hedge Fund Index gained 0.86%1 in February, supported by the global equity market which continued to rebound over a potential resolution of the US-China trade friction. Hedge fund managers focusing on developed markets and Asia posted gains during the month, while Latin America and Eastern Europe mandates languished into the red. North American fund managers gained 1.46% during the month, while those focusing on Asia ex-Japan generated 2.77% returns. On a year-to-date basis, the two mandates were up 5.01% and 5.32% respectively. The market anticipation over the end of the trade war resulted in a strong boost for the Chinese equity markets, with most of the major Chinese equity indices recording double-digit gains over the month. The Eurekahedge Greater China Hedge Fund Index gained 7.04% in February, bringing its year-to-date return to 11.94% over the first two months of 2019.
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Roughly 65.6% of the underlying constituents of the Eurekahedge Hedge Fund Index posted positive returns in February. Fund managers utilising equity long-biased strategies topped the table with their 8.03% gain over the first two months of the year, while on the other end of the spectrum long volatility strategic mandate was down 6.47% year-to-date as market volatilities remained suppressed throughout January and February.
Below are the key highlights for the month of February 2019:
- Hedge fund managers returned 0.86% in February, bringing their year-to-date gains to 3.22% as global equity markets continued to rebound during the month. The MSCI ACWI (Local) was up 3.03% in February and 10.61% year-to-date.
- On an asset-weighted basis, hedge funds were up 0.30% in February, as captured by the Mizuho Eurekahedge Hedge Fund Index (USD). The index was up 1.90% year-to-date after registering a loss of 4.30% throughout 2018.
- North American fund managers gained 1.46% in February, as the region’s equity markets reacted positively to the dovish tone of the Fed and hopes that the US-China trade relations could improve.
- The Eurekahedge European Hedge Fund Index gained 0.26% in February, as signs of slowing economic growth persisted within the Eurozone.
- The Eurekahedge Commodity Hedge Fund Index gained 2.06% during the month, with managers citing the strength in energy sector and industrial metals as return drivers.
- Fund managers utilising AI/machine learning strategies were up 0.60% in February, bringing their year-to-date returns to 2.96%. The Eurekahedge AI Hedge Fund Index was down 5.26% in 2018.
- The Eurekahedge Crypto-Currency Hedge Fund Index gained 12.74% in February, recording its best month in nearly a year. Roughly half of the underlying crypto-currency hedge funds managed to outperform Bitcoin which gained 9.65% during the month.
- The Eurekahedge ILS Advisers Index slumped 0.39% in February, bringing its 2019 year-to-date return to 0.11%. ILS fund managers ended 2018 down 3.92% as the catastrophic losses suffered during the year’s Atlantic hurricane season weighed on their returns.
Main Indices
Regional Indices
North American fund managers gained 5.01% as of February year-to-date, recovering from the losses they suffered over the last quarter of 2018. The cautious tone of the Fed and anticipation over the US-China trade talk outcome as they entered the final phase of the negotiations helped equity markets gain during the month. The Eurekahedge European Hedge Fund Index gained 0.26% in February, as the risk-on sentiment among investors was dampened by signs of weakening growth. Asia ex-Japan mandate continued to rebound in February, as the US-China trade talk supported a strong rally in the Chinese equity markets. The Eurekahedge Asia ex Japan Hedge Fund Index was up 2.77% during the month.
Strategy Indices
Returns were mostly positive across strategic mandates in February. The commodity hedge fund mandate outperformed most of its peers with a 2.06% return over the month, owing to the strong recovery of oil prices, which resulted from OPEC’s production cut decision. Event driven and long/short equities strategies benefited from the upward movement in the equity markets around the globe and ended the month up 1.33% and 1.28% respectively. Fixed income fund managers gained 0.69% in February, as the dovish stance of most central banks from developed economies led to lower bond yield during the month.
Table 1: Index Flash Strategy Return Map
1Based on 41.04% of funds which have reported February 2019 returns as at 12 March 2019
Article by Eurekahedge
