Hedge funds were down 1.43 per cent in September, the fourth consecutive monthly loss, according to the Barclay Hedge Fund Index compiled by BarclayHedge. The Index is down 1.21 per cent year to date.
“Investor uncertainty fueled by weak growth numbers in the US and China, along with the Fed’s reluctance to raise US interest rates, triggered a global selloff in equities, commodities, and high yield bonds,” says Sol Waksman (pictured), founder and president of BarclayHedge.
All but one of Barclay’s 18 hedge fund indices lost ground in September. The Healthcare & Biotechnology Index dropped 5.90 per cent, adding to its 4.13 per cent loss in August. The Event Driven Index was down 2.67 per cent, Equity Long Bias lost 2.44 per cent, Distressed Securities gave up 2.05 per cent, and the Emerging Markets Index was down 1.53 per cent.
The Equity Market Neutral Index was the only hedge fund strategy in positive territory for September, with a 0.87 per cent gain.
At the end of three quarters in 2015, the Merger Arbitrage Index is up 4.54 per cent, Equity Market Neutral has gained 4.01 per cent, Pacific Rim Equities have risen 3.92 per cent, Healthcare & Biotechnology is up 3.78 per cent, and European Equites have gained 3.51 per cent.
The Distressed Securities Index has lost 6.66 per cent year to date, Emerging Markets are down 4.52 per cent, the Event Driven Index has lost 3.09 per cent, and Equity Long Bias is down 3.02 per cent.
The Barclay Fund of Funds Index lost 1.67 per cent in September, and is down 0.54 per cent in 2015.
