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In addition to the broad Parker FX Index, there are two style driven sub-indices: the Parker Systematic Index, which tracks those managers whose decision process is rule based, and the Parker Discretionary Index, which tracks managers whose decision process is judgmental. During March, the Systematic Index was up +0.60% and the Discretionary Index was up +0.95%. Year to date the Systematic Index is up +0.42% and the Discretionary Index is up +1.18%. On a risk-adjusted basis, the Parker Systematic Index was up +0.21% in March, and the Parker Discretionary Index was up +0.33%.

The top three performing funds for the month of March, on a reported basis, returned +4.72%, +4.69% and +3.95%, respectively. The top three performers on a risk-adjusted basis returned +8.82%, +2.55% and +2.14%, respectively.

During the month the USD continued its appreciation relative to the majors with the DXY Index gaining 0.62%. The US dollar rally was driven by strengthening US economic figures, subdued inflation and on dropping selling pressures. Additionally, the dollar has been a beneficiary of the uncertainty in the Euro-zone amidst the Greek debt crisis as investors sold euros. During the month the Japanese yen declined -4.85% relative to the dollar due to dampened demand for the refuge currency on continued signs supporting a global economic recovery.

Managers that were long commodity currencies benefitted with positioning in the Canadian dollar, Australian dollar and New Zealand dollar, all of which appreciated against the US dollar amidst strengthening oil prices. Managers that were long emerging market currencies also benefitted from gains in the Mexican peso, which was up 3.39% versus the US dollar after the Mexican Finance Ministry raised its forecast for the country’s economic growth.

Managers in the emerging space also gained from long positions in the Hungarian Forint which was up nearly 1% versus the USD on indications that economic growth will continue to expand due to low inflation figures.

The Parker FX Index is a performance-based benchmark that measures both the reported and the riskadjusted returns of global currency managers. It is the first index used to analyze unleveraged (risk-adjusted) performance in order to calculate pure currency alpha, or manager skill. The 291 month compounded annual return since inception (January, 1986 through March, 2010) is up +12.01% on a reported basis and up +3.16% on a riskadjusted basis.

From inception (January, 1986 through March, 2010) the compounded annual return for the Parker Systematic Index and the Parker Discretionary Index, on a reported basis, is +12.21% and +9.89% respectively. From inception, the compounded annualized return, on a risk-adjusted basis, for the Parker Systematic Index and the Parker Discretionary Index, is +2.82% and +3.37%, respectively.

The Parker FX Index tracks the performance, or value-added, that managers have generated from positioning long or short foreign currencies. The Index is equally weighted, as opposed to capitalization weighted, to preclude very large managers from swaying the performance in a direction that may not be representative of the currency manager universe. Parker Global Strategies applies its model to the performance of a representative currency portfolio or composite, net of fees, and excluding interest for each currency manager.

The Parker FX Index currently includes 67 programs managed by 58 firms located in the US, Canada, UK, Germany, Switzerland, France, Ireland, Singapore, and Australia. The 67 programs include a combination of 45 programs that are systematic and 22 programs that are discretionary. The 67 programs manage over $36 billion in currency strategy assets. The Index also includes the performance of currencymanagers who are no longer trading in order to address survivorship bias. Disciplines include technical, fundamental, and quantitative.

Founded in 1995, Parker Global Strategies specializes in designing and managing multi-manager hedge fund strategies for institutional clients across the globe and providing risk management oversight. PGS also designs and manages niche fund of hedge funds including Currency, US Energy Infrastructure, Transparency, CTAs and Green.
-KM
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