Digital Assets Report

Newsletter

Like this article?

Sign up to our free newsletter

CTA funds gain 0.85 per cent in April as equity and energy market rallies extend for another month

Related Topics

Managed futures posted another positive month in April with a 0.85 per cent return according to the Barclay CTA Index, compiled by BarclayHedge. Nine of BarclayHedge’s 10 CTA indices had gains in April.

Year to date, the Barclay CTA Index has gained 2.28 per cent. All ten of BarclayHedge’s managed futures indices are now in positive territory for 2019.

“Four consecutive months of ongoing rallies in energy and global equity markets have provided a much needed tail wind for CTA performance,” says Sol Waksman, president of BarclayHedge. “An ongoing downtrend in agricultural markets provided a boost for trend traders at the expense of those anticipating prices to turn upward.”

The Cryptocurrency Traders Index led the pack in April with a 9.83 per cent return while the BTOP50 Index, which tracks the performance of the largest CTAs, gained 3.15 per cent. The MPI Barclay Systematic Traders Index returned 2.75 per cent for the month, the Diversified Traders Index returned 1.21 per cent and the Systematic Traders Index posted a 1.07 per cent return.

The Currency Traders Index was the lone loser in April, down 0.30 per cent. “Although the US Dollar had strengthened against many of the major currencies by month-end, mid-month trend reversals resulted in losses across the sector,” said Waksman.

The Cryptocurrency Traders Index led in year-to-date return as well, up 18.54 per cent through April. Other leading year-to-date gainers included the MPI Barclay Elite Systematic Traders Index, up 5.65 per cent, the Barclay BTOP50 Index, 4.91 per cent, Systematic Traders Index, up 2.55 per cent for the year, the Diversified Traders Index, with a 2.34 per cent year-to-date return, and the Financial/Metals Traders Index returning 1.91 per cent.

Like this article? Sign up to our free newsletter

Most Popular

Further Reading

Featured