Laxman Pai, Opalesque Asia: Hedge funds extended strong January gains into February, leading the broad-based HFRI to the strongest start to a calendar year since 2012.
The HFRI Fund Weighted Composite Index (FWC) advanced +1.4% in February, with gains across all main strategies, as well as in Risk Premia and Risk Parity strategies, reported HFR, the researcher of the global hedge fund industry.
The February gain for the HFRI FWC brings YTD performance to +4.9 %. The top decile of HFRI constituents gained +6.6% for the month, while the bottom decile declined -3.0%.
Equity Hedge strategies led HFRI performance
Equity Hedge (EH) strategies led HFRI performance for the month, with the HFRI Equity Hedge (Total) Index gaining +1.8%, bringing YTD performance to +7.0%, the leading area of main strategy performance.
Specialized growth and high beta exposures led EH sub-strategy performance, with the HFRI EH: Healthcare Index surging +4.1% for the month, while the HFRI EH: Technology Index advanced +2.8%.
Complementing these, the HFRI EH: Fundamental Growth Index gained +2.5% and the HFRI EH: Quantitative Directional Index advanced +1.9% in February.
The HFRI Emerging Markets (Total) Index added +1.5% for the month, led by the HFRI EM: Asia ex-Japan Index which surged +3.1%, bringing the 2-month gain to +7.0%.
HFRI Event-Driven (Total) Index gain +1.5%
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