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Laxman Pai, Opalesque Asia:

Hedge funds extended their run of positive returns to four straight months in April, returning 1.21% for the month, according to the Barclay Hedge Fund Index.

BarclayHedge, a division of Backstop Solutions, said that by comparison, the S&P 500 Total Return Index rose 2.85% in April. For the-year-to date through the end of April hedge funds returned 6.86% while the S&P was up 19.32%.

"Several factors buoyed investor sentiment in April, including U.S. first quarter growth exceeding expectations and strong U.S. consumer spending and March jobs reports," said Sol Waksman, president of BarclayHedge.

"Hopeful signs in the U.S.-China trade dispute as President Trump directed negotiators to reach a solution bolstered equity markets, while reports that Chinese economic growth held steady in the first quarter gave a further boost to investor confidence," Sol added.

The Technology Index set the pace in April with a 3.70% return, with the Emerging Markets Eastern European Equities Index close behind at 3.54%. The Equity Long Bias Index returned 3.15% for the month while the Emerging Markets Eastern Europe Index posted a 3.11% return.

"Healthy first quarter economic growth in Poland and solid consumer spending and employment gains in Romania were among the factors adding strength to Eastern European funds," added Waksman.

Other fund sectors in positive territory in April included the Emerging Markets Other Index, up 1.73%, the Emergi......................

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