Opalesque Industry Updates - Hennessee Group LLC, an adviser to hedge fund investors, believes the equity markets are likely to continue their momentum heading into the end of the year and lead to additional gains for investors during the month of December. Charles Gradante, Co-Founder of the Hennessee Group, stated “We believe the ‘December Effect’, whereby investors choose to defer paying taxes on equity market gains until the following year, will provide additional support to the equity markets as we close out the year. And historical data seems to support this thesis as the equity markets have experienced gains during the final month of the year 70% of the time when positive through the month of November.” Gradante added, “In addition, hedge funds have experienced gains in December 100% of the time during these same calendar year periods.” “DECEMBER EFFECT”: EQUITY MARKETS AND HEDGE FUNDS Hennessee Group recently conducted a brief study examining the historical performance of the equity markets and hedge funds when entering the final month of the year with positive year-to-date gains. Hennessee Group focused on the calendar year periods dating back to 1995; using the S&P 500 Index and the Hennessee Hedge Fund Index as proxies. As illustrated in the chart below, dating back to 1995, the S&P 500 Index has generated positive returns through November in ten calendar year periods and experienced additional gains in December 70% of the time. In comparison, hedge funds managed to generate gains in nine of the calendar year periods the S&P 500 Index was positive through November and experienced gains in December 100% of the time. Gradante stated, “The data supports the ‘December Effect Theory’ and bodes well for investors as we close out 2009. Hennessee Research indicates that when the equity markets were positive through November, they gained on average +2.1% in December while hedge funds gained +1.9%.”
Note: Hedge funds experienced a challenging period in 1998 due in large part to the failure of Long-Term Capital Management. OPTIMISTIC HEDGE FUND OUTLOOK FOR 2010 While the Hennessee Group is optimistic for both the equity markets and hedge funds heading into the final month of the year due to the “December Effect”, we are more optimistic that hedge funds are well positioned for a good year on a relative basis in 2010. The Hennessee Group believes fundamentals will matter again in the coming year which should lead to an increase in dispersion between sectors and individual stocks, particularly as the rally gets long in the tooth. In addition, the equity markets are likely to trade in a range as opposed to trend in one particular direction in 2010. The Hennessee Group believes such an environment should favor hedge funds relative to their traditional counterparts as they will have the opportunity to generate alpha on the both the long and short side of their portfolios while not having to rely on market direction or beta for returns. * For a more in depth monthly review of the economy, capital markets, and hedge fund performance and strategies, the Hennessee Group offers the monthly Hennessee Hedge Fund Review (www.hennesseegroup.com/hhfr/). - FG |
Industry Updates
Hennessee - Positive December for equities and hedge funds predicted
Monday, November 30, 2009
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