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“Hedge funds benefited from September’s stock and bond market rally,” AJ D’Asaro, fund analyst at Morningstar, said. “Favorable macroeconomic data, a tentative compromise with Syria, and the postponement of tapering by the U.S. Federal Reserve allowed hedge funds to advance above and beyond last month’s declines.”

Long-biased equity strategies profited the most from the Federal Reserve’s decision. The Morningstar MSCI North America Hedge Fund Index increased 2.0% for the month, and 4.1% for the third quarter of 2013, as the S&P 500 reached all-time highs. Similarly, the Morningstar MSCI Small Cap Hedge Fund Index, which represents small-cap long-short equity strategies, rose 3.5% in September, while the Russell 2000 Index spiked 6.4%. The Morningstar MSCI North America Hedge Fund Index and the Morningstar MSCI Small Cap Hedge Fund Index have risen 8.9% and 15.0%, respectively, year-to-date through September while the S&P 500 and Russell 2000 Indexes increased 19.8% and 27.7%, respectively.

Bonds also rallied following the mid-month Federal Open Market Committee meeting. The Barclays Global Aggregate Bond Index increased 2.1% in September, and the Morningstar MSCI Fixed Income Hedge Fund Index rose 0.8%. The Morningstar MSCI Fixed Income Hedge Fund Index advanced 2.9% for the year through September, while the unhedged Barclays Global Aggregate Bond Index declined by 2.2% because hedge funds were less exposed to declining interest rates in May and June.

Emerging markets hedge fund strategies rose sharply on surprise GDP growth in countries such as China and Brazil and a globally endorsed Russian plan to remove chemical weapons from Syria. The Morningstar MSCI Emerging Markets Hedge Fund Index advanced 3.2% in September and 1.5% in the third quarter, compared with 6.5% and 5.8%, respectively, for the unhedged MSCI Emerging Markets Index.

Unrelated to the broad markets, arbitrage strategies did modestly in September. The Morningstar MSCI Arbitrage Hedge Fund Index rose 0.8% during the month and 1.6% in the third quarter. Merger arbitrage strategies took profits as several large deals closed at the end of the quarter. Convertible arbitrage strategies benefited from increased issuance across the globe.

The Morningstar MSCI Discretionary Trading Hedge Fund Index, made up of hedge funds that trade macro-economic trends, rose a modest 1.2% in September. The index increased 5.5% for the year through September. On the other hand, systematic futures traders, which typically trade on price momentum, struggled as stocks and bonds reversed course during the month. The Morningstar MSCI Systematic Trading Hedge Fund Index sank 0.8% in September, dragging down its year-to-date decline to 3.9% and extending its two-year record of annualized losses.

The systematic futures and long-only equity categories saw outflows of $424 million and $345 million, respectively, in August. For the year through August, both categories bled assets. Multistrategy and long/short debt hedge funds experienced significant inflows of $178 million and $273 million, respectively. In aggregate, single-manager hedge funds in Morningstar’s database saw minor net outflows of $26 million in August. Top-performing, 5-star hedge funds with at least a three-year track record raised an additional $386 million in August. $85 million also flowed into funds with no Morningstar rating in August. These newer funds have collected $7.3 billion for the year through August.

The Morningstar MSCI Discretionary Trading Hedge Fund Index, made up of hedge funds that trade macro-economic trends, rose a modest 1.2% in September. The index increased 5.5% for the year through September. On the other hand, systematic futures traders, which typically trade on price momentum, struggled as stocks and bonds reversed course during the month. The Morningstar MSCI Systematic Trading Hedge Fund Index sank 0.8% in September, dragging down its year-to-date decline to 3.9% and extending its two-year record of annualized losses.

The systematic futures and long-only equity categories saw outflows of $424 million and $345 million, respectively, in August. For the year through August, both categories bled assets. Multistrategy and long/short debt hedge funds experienced significant inflows of $178 million and $273 million, respectively. In aggregate, single-manager hedge funds in Morningstar’s database saw minor net outflows of $26 million in August. Top-performing, 5-star hedge funds with at least a three-year track record raised an additional $386 million in August. $85 million also flowed into funds with no Morningstar rating in August. These newer funds have collected $7.3 billion for the year through August.

Morningstar

Press Release

BM