•  
• Tweet
•  
•        Print
•  
•         Track Keywords
•  
• 

From Precy Dumlao, Opalesque Asia.

It was surely the best year in a decade for hedge funds in 2009 as the performance tracking firm Hedge Fund Research said that the $2tln industry closed the year with a 20% gain.

In its latest date released last week, the HFRI Fund Weighted Composite Index (HFRI FWC) posted 1.25% (est.) in December, bringing YTD results to 20.04% following the dismal 19% loss recorded in 2008 (full index performance table: here).

The industry’s 2009 ending was narrowly eclipsed by the 2003 return of +19.55%, and has made 2009 the best year since 1999, when funds returned +31.29%.

In its report, HFR said that Event Driven strategies were the strongest performers for the month of December, posting a gain of +3.15% on strong Distressed, Activist and Corporate Special Situations returns.”

For the full year, Event Driven strategies narrowly out-gained Relative Value Arbitrage and Equity Hedge strategies, with returns of +25.96%, +25.80% and +25.07% respectively.

Macro strategies continued to lag behind overall industry performance, as the HFRI Macro (Total) Index fell -1.63% in December and +4.03% for 2009.

The investible HFRX Global Hedge Fund Index also posted positive results in 2009, ending December up......................

To view our full article Click here