Quant CTA strategies posted the strongest gains in October according to hedge fund data from HFRI.
All hedge funds posted strong gains in October, the firm says, and equity and fixed income strategies boosted returns to provide HFRI with its twelfth consecutive positive month and the strongest return since July 2016.
The HFRI Fund Weighted Composite Index (FWC) climbed +1.3 per cent in October, increasing the YTD gain to +7.2 per cent and extending the record Index Value to 13,885. The firm writes that Risk Parity strategies also saw strong performance across all volatility target levels in the month.
Industry-wide hedge fund gains were led by quantitative, trend-following Macro CTA strategies, as the HFRI Macro: Systematic Diversified Index surged +4.0 per cent for the period, the strongest monthly return since January 2015. Prior to October, CTA strategies had experienced mixed performance over an intermediate timeframe, with the Index having lost -2.3 per cent YTD entering October and having posted narrow declines in each of the prior two calendar years; the October gain brings YTD performance to +1.6 per cent.
Returns in CTA strategies were driven by exposures across asset classes, including equities, commodities, and fixed income. The HFRI Macro (Total) Index advanced +2.5 per cent in October, the strongest month since December 2010, reversing a narrow YTD decline and bringing the YTD return to +2.4 per cent. Sub-strategy CTA gains were complemented by the HFRI Macro: Multi-Strategy Index, which added +1.6 per cent for the month.
Risk Parity strategies reversed their narrow declines from the prior month and extended strong 2017 performance. The HFR Risk Parity Vol 10 Index gained +2.7 per cent in October, bringing the YTD return to +11.4 per cent, while the HFR Risk Parity Vol 15 Index surged +4.1 per cent, advancing YTD performance to +16.9 per cent.
Equity Hedge strategies also posted solid gains in October, driven by strong earnings in technology. The HFRI Equity Hedge (Total) Index advanced +1.0 per cent for the month, bringing YTD performance to +10.7 per cent. EH was led by the HFRI EH: Technology Index, which jumped +2.9 per cent in October, bringing YTD performance to +16.3 per cent, leading all HFRI sub-strategies. Quantitative equity strategies also experienced strong returns for the month, as the HFRI EH: Quantitative Directional Index climbed +2.0 per cent. Complementing these October gains, the HFRI EH: Multi-Strategy and HFRI EH: Fundamental Growth Indices advanced +1.4 and +1.0 per cent, respectively, while the HFRI Equity Hedge (Asset Weighted) Index jumped +2.0 per cent.
The fixed income-based HFRI Relative Value (Total) Index advanced +0.4 per cent in October, bringing YTD performance to +4.3 per cent. RVA sub-strategies were led by the HFRI Volatility Index, which gained +0.9 per cent and the HFRI Convertible Arbitrage Index, which added +0.7 per cent. For the year, the HFRI Asset-Backed Index leads all RVA sub-strategies with a +7.1 per cent YTD return.
Event-Driven strategies produced mixed performance in October, with gains in equity and M&A strategies nearly offset by declines in credit-sensitive distressed funds. The HFRI Event-Driven (Total) Index posted a narrow gain of +0.1 per cent for the month, though the HFRI Event-Driven (Asset Weighted) Index produced a slightly higher return of +0.5 per cent. ED sub-strategy performance was led by the HFRI ED: Special Situations Index, which returned +0.7 per cent, and the HFRI ED: Merger Arbitrage Index, which added +0.5 per cent; meanwhile, the HFRI ED: Distressed Index declined -0.7 per cent in the period.
“Quantitative, trend-following strategies surged in October, driven by contributions across all major asset classes including equities, commodities, fixed income and currencies, as these reversed what had been a challenging environment not only in 2017, but also in the prior two years,” says Kenneth J. Heinz (pictured), President of HFR. “Risk Parity strategies also extended gains in October, though in contrast to trend-following strategies, Risk Parity strategies have posted strong performance in both 2017 and the prior year. Shifting patterns in geopolitical and financial market risks have created opportunities for hedge fund managers, and it is likely that these dynamic strategies will lead industry growth and performance into 2018.”
