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In the week ending 18 July, 2014, Towers Watson reported that global alternative assets jumped to $5.7tln from $5.1tln over the past year; data from eVestment showed hedge fund assets topped $3tln to reach new highs; Eurekahedge reported hedge fund assets grew by $105.6bn in the first half of 2014 bringing the current AUM to a record high of $2.12tln. John Paulson netted $360m from Whiting Petroleum's purchase of Kodiak Oil & Gas; and Blackstone Group's assets totaled a record $278.9bn as of June 30, up 3% from $271.7bn in the first quarter and up 21% from a year earlier.

Steve Schwarzman of Blackstone Group wants wealthy individuals to invest in the firm’s new hedge fund launches; Gerald Kok plans to start a hedge fund that invests in Asian and U.S. companies; Daniel Masters joined a new bitcoin hedge fund; and ex-Deutsche Bank analyst Takayuki Asakawa started a Japan-focused long-short hedge fund.

The HFRU Hedge Fund Composite Index gained 0.33% through mid-July (+3.27% YTD); The Barclay Hedge Fund Index was up 1.41% in June (+3.76% YTD); And the Credit Suisse Hedge Fund Index finished up 0.96 % (+2.84% YTD).

The SS&C GlobeOp Hedge Fund Performance Index and Capital Movement Index was up 1.16% in June (+4.33% YTD); event-driven hedge funds led the way in the second half of 2014 with 5.24% gains as hedge funds returned to form; BlackRock second-quarter profit climbed to 11% and attracted $38bn in investor money during the quarter; Seth Klarman’s Baupost year-to-date return was actually not 60%; Boaz Weinstein, founder of Saba Capital, lost 1.3% in June; CQS Funds had a slightly positive June; and Lemelson Capital reported a 20% gain in the first half of this year.

Among investments, hedge funds increased their exposure to stocks at the start of this month; hedge fu......................

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