August saw Ucits hedge funds fail to deliver any scintillating returns, with not a single strategy climbing above one per cent according to the latest figures released by the UCITS Alternative Index. Globally, the Index saw a 0.14 per cent gain bringing it to -0.14 per cent YTD; this is in contrast to traditional hedgies up +1.65 per cent YTD. Out of the eleven separate indices, only four were in negative territory: Fund of Funds (-0.35 per cent), L/S Equity (-0.21 per cent), Equity Market Neutral (-0.15 per cent) and Commodities (-0.04 per cent). The best performer for August was the Alternative Index CTA, up +0.93 per cent and finally bringing a halt to four consecutive losing months. Nevertheless, the strategy is still -1.62 per cent YTD. Macro was the next best strategy, up +0.42 per cent to take it into positive territory (+0.37 per cent) YTD, with Multi-Strategy and Emerging Markets both gaining +0.35 per cent. Fixed Income remains the strongest UCITS strategy in 2010, a +0.24 per cent climb last month putting it at +2.98 per cent YTD. Commodities continue to languish in the doldrums, down -4.90 per cent for the year.