Beverly Chandler, Opalesque London: In its Annual Global Hedge Fund Manager Survey, independent research and portfolio advisory firm, Aksia, has observed a dramatic turnaround in sentiment among global hedge fund managers over the last 12 months. Aksia polled the opinion of 168 institutional caliber managers across the major hedge fund strategies, which collectively account for approximately $900 billion in AUM and 41% of total hedge fund industry assets. Their findings reveal that hedge fund managers are bullish on financial assets, in a ratio of 3:1 with the most bullish coming from the Long/Short Equity strategy at 84%, but the least bullish drawn from Relative Value managers, at 50%.
Jim Vos, CEO at Aksia, said: "This survey appears to show that managers are looking through much of the "noise" and headlines that bombard us daily. At a minimum, it illustrates a belief in near term stability in the markets and less concern about left-tail risks."
Managers revealed that their biggest upside surprise for the coming year was Europe at 15%, while a recovery in the US housing market weighed in at 13%; growth in China at 9% and, what Aksia refers to as an 'honourable mention’ went to Japanese equities.
The biggest risk for 2013 came from the US’s fiscal cliff with 24% believing it posed the biggest threat. Europe came in at 19%, an economic downturn at 9% and the honourable mention went to government interve...................... To view our full article Click here
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